Author: Shan Ritch

On September 11, 2025 I attended a faculty introduction to the Biology Department at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Six Doctors of Biology introduced themselves and spoke briefly about their work. After each summary of the classes they teach and the research they are currently focused on, they each sat at a table of three to five students to answer questions and discuss their research further. They had conversations with each table of students.

Dr. Melinda Grosser was the director of the event as well as offering an overview of her own roles as professor and the research she is currently working on. She is doing extensive research on Staphylococcus Aureus because of its resistance to antibiotics. Her lab is using a control and comparing that to any mutations that may occur in their samples. She hopes to be able to design a knockdown strain. They are hoping to silence the antibiotic-resistant genes.

Dr Courtney Clark-Hachtel spoke about her study of Tardigrades and their remarkable resilience. She focuses on a particular species, Hypsibius exemplaris. Tardigrades are resilient in many ways, the most common is ability to desiccate or dry themselves out in times of drought stress. However, Dr. Clark-Hachtel is specifically focused on their ability to repair DNA after radiation exposure. Her lab is experimenting with observing how the DNA providing this ability reacts in other systems.

Dr Ted Meigs worked for the department of cancer research and pharmacology from 1996-2003. He has been a professor at UNCA for 23 years. He is currently researching how cells function and how molecules interact with cells. He has continued his research on cancer at UNCA. His lab is currently focused on the proteins involved in switched DNA that contribute to cell mutation on or off.

Dr Jonathan Horton has been a biology professor at UNCA for over 20 years. His focus is on forest mycology and ecology. His lab recently evaluated the vast amount of fallen trees due to hurricane Helene last September and their relation to possible changes in mycorrhiza. He has created a fungarium, a collection of dried fungus specimens. His collection exceeds 450 and he is working on getting a DNA bar code for each.

Dr. Camila Filgueiras teaches entomology along with other courses at UNCA. Her research focuses on how insects interact with their environment. She aims to understand the relationship of insects, plants, and microbes. One of her specific studies are on the American Chestnut and chestnut blight, Cryphonectria parasitica. Her lab also examines all pathogens affecting the majestic trees.

Dr Rebecca Hale is the director of undergraduate research. Her current research focuses on animal behavior where ecology and evolution overlap. Specifically, she is studying the parental behavior of salamanders. Not all species of salamanders have the same parental behavior. These behaviors include maternal care, paternal care and no care. One of the main species she studies is the Marble Salamander, Ambystoma opacum. The parental behavior of the Marble Salamander is that some mothers stay with her eggs and curve their body around the eggs to hold any moisture in contact with the eggs. This begins the hatching process. They do not stay for the hatching of the eggs.

Every professor had a chance to have a short chat with each student. They were all excited about their research and very engaging. They answered questions from the students and asked many questions of their own. When a student exhibited a focused interest on a particular branch of biology each professor offered to extend a conversation on the subject beyond the seminar. Many of the professors share their research with each other, for biological systems overlap.

Have you ever discovered a bag of cornmeal or a box of cereal that was shoved to the back of the pantry for long enough to forget, looked inside, and found it crawling with some sort of worm or beetle?  Chances are this is the mealworm or darkling beetle. They are commonly found around any grain storage areas due to the larvae’s insatiable desire for vegetative remains and delicious grains. Good news though: if food is what you were after when you discovered them, they can be eaten too!

Let’s start from the beginning. The oldest known record of mealworms was found in archeological digs exploring bronze age Turkey.  This means mealworms have been munching on our cereal for thousands of years!  Though they originated in the Mediterranean region, due to colonization and trade, they can now be found just about anywhere on earth.

The lifecycle of this insect begins as an egg that is about 0.05 mm and oval shaped. After about 4-19 days, depending on temperature consistency, the eggs hatch.  They prefer a temperature from 77-81 degrees. The female beetle lays about 70-100 eggs at a time. The newly emerged larvae are light orange or whitish and are about 3mm long; tiny! The baby larvae feed on vegetation and dead insects. They eat almost constantly and molt between each stage or instar. They go through about 9-20 instars through the duration of about 90-114 days. After the final molt when the larvae have reached the grand size of one inch it enters a pupate stage. The larvae will undergo a drastic change of physical features and attributes. The pupa is whitish and color and grow for about 3-30 days, once again depending upon temperature, they emerge as an adult darkling beetle!

The habitat of a darkling beetle in nature is dead grasses, leaf litter, decomposed organic matter, under old logs, and any other form of decomposing vegetation. Most often though they can be found near animal enclosures and food storage site including your pantry at times.

Uses for mealworm larvae include food for poultry, livestock, pigs, fish, reptile, pet birds, fish bait, and humans! They are packed with nutrients with every 100 grams of larvae raw having 206 calories and 14-25 grams of protein as well as potassium, copper, sodium, selenium, iron, and zinc. Compared to beef, mealworms are much more sustainable and occupy a much smaller amount of space. In May of 2017 Switzerland approved mealworms as a food and in 2021 they were approved by the European Union. Here in the U. S., there isn’t a specific regulation, and they can sometimes be found in novelty shops, or perhaps on sustainable homesteads if you search.

                For commercial or mass production, the space and energy required to raise mealworms is very little compared to livestock farms. You can raise them on oats, wheat, sliced potatoes, carrots, apples and just about any organic vegetative material.

Mealworms can also be used to recycle polystyrene! They can consume polystyrene at a rate of 34-39 mg per day. Specifically, the microorganism inside their gut is responsible for this action. They of course don’t prefer polystyrene and overall, it isn’t good for their long-term health, however it is possible and could be a source of recycling in the future

The possibilities of mealworm use may bring us closer to sustainability as we change towards mindsets and habits conducive to the preservation of the earth. You could easily set up your own mealworm operation to aid in supplementing your backyard chickens or ducks. All you need is a few plastic bins and a few mealworms and some grain to start the process. Even their “waste,” known as frass, can be used as a fertilizer. As we examine possibilities for a more sustainable the future, one thing is for sure:  mealworms can teach us so much about ecological cycles. Incorporating these models in our lives as we approach sustainability is key.

For more on mealworms and decomposers check out our podcast! https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/LXdEenw2pub

For more on mealworms visit : https://study.com/academy/lesson/mealworms-lesson-for-kids-facts-life-cycle.html

Shan M Ritch

Why do we want cookies or cake after a Meal? Is there something physiological that makes that happen? Max Planke, from the Florida Institute for Neuroscience, decided to find out. It was already known that there is a group of nerve cells, called the POMC neurons, that make us feel full after a meal. But what Planke discovered was that these same nerve cells are responsible for sugar cravings. After eating the sugar treat there is a release of opiate endorphins giving a satisfying feeling. When studying this process in mice it was discovered that the endorphin release happens just by anticipating the sugary treat! Scientists think understanding this process could help with obesity.

So, this explains what and why for dessert cravings but is there science in the dessert itself? Of course, there is because cooking is chemistry! Let’s bite into this by analyzing chocolate cake. To create the perfect moist soft chocolate cake the protein gluten in flour must be processed perfectly. When mixed with water the gluten is activating creating a web like structure that traps air bubbles. If you look at cake with a magnifying glass, you can see the results of those bubbles. When sugar and chocolate are added the sugar caramelizes adding flavor and texture. Then when butter or oil is added it inhibits the gluten formation. Once again, the amount of each ingredient is crucial to get the desired flavor and texture.

Between the ages of 2-4 children ask why repetitively. This is because the world around them has come into focus and they want to understand All Of It! That curiosity can be nourished by presence and wonder all through our lives. So, when you have a craving for that perfect chocolate cake after a wonderful meal, we know it’s because of the neurons in our stomachs and if you are curious why a chocolate cake from your grandma tastes best it is because she has repeated a recipe that is tried and true!

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250213143309.htm

https://maxplanckneuroscience.org/institute/mpfi-neuroscience/

https://cwcpediatrics.com/2025/07/21/why-is-my-child-asking-so-many-questions-understanding-the-why-phase/

What is STEAM?
STEAM stands for:
• Science – Understanding natural phenomena and scientific principles.
• Technology – Utilizing tools and resources to solve problems.
• Engineering – Applying design and construction principles to create solutions.
• Arts – Incorporating creativity and design thinking into projects.
• Mathematics – Using quantitative reasoning and analytical skills.

Let’s dive into how each part of STEAM plays a role in the world with one powerful image: The STEAM engine!
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Imagine a steam train chugging along the tracks. It’s powered by hot steam produced in a boiler, where water is heated by coal, wood, or natural gas. The pressure created in the boiler moves the pistons, which in turn gets the wheels turning.
Now let’s look at how each component of STEAM is at work in the steam engine:

The steam engine demonstrates the understanding of physical and chemical reactions (e.g., heating water to create steam).

Science is the systematic study of natural phenomena through:
• Observation – using senses to understand a subject
• Questioning – asking “why” and “how”
•Hypothesis – making predictions based on prior knowledge
•Experimentation – testing predictions through trials
•Analysis – drawing conclusions from data

Do scientists always stop at conclusions? Of course not! Repeatable experiments lead to more questions and deeper understanding.
Technology
From Hero of Alexandria’s early steam devices to modern trains, technology evolves over time. Like bricks building a taller house, each innovation builds on the last.

Technology isn’t just about computers. It’s the application of knowledge to solve real-world problems in every field, including:
• Agriculture
• Medicine
• Transportation

Engineering
The steam engine itself is an amazing example of mechanical engineering. The field of engineering applies scientific knowledge to design, build, and maintain systems.
Engineering has many branches, including:
• Civil Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering

Through collaboration and education, engineers refine and improve existing designs, pushing innovation forward.

Art
Art may not seem like an obvious player in the evolution of the steam engine—but it’s absolutely essential!
Art brings imagination to reality. Before anything is built, it’s imagined—drawn, modeled, or sculpted. Scientific illustrations have helped us understand:
• Microorganisms
• Plant structures (botany)
• Insects (entomology)

Art has also:
• Depicted future technology before it existed (Star Trek!)
• Influenced the aesthetics and design of functional machines
A drawing of an early steam engine could have been the first step in making it real.

Mathematics
Math is often called the language of science. It can be:
• Utilitarian – for everyday functions like budgeting or measuring
• Theoretical – existing purely in the abstract, yet influencing real-world inventions
Much like art, theoretical math often becomes practical. Inventions like the steam engine required:
• Calculations of pressure
• Mechanical measurements
• Geometry in design
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Conclusion: STEAM Powers Progress!

STEAM is more than just an acronym. It’s a framework for innovation, problem-solving, and creativity.
Whether it’s a train moving across the tracks, a new invention, or a scientific discovery, each discipline works together to fuel progress. The steam engine is just one powerful example of how Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math come together to shape the world.

High Touch High Tech wants to share all the wonderful benefits of trees. Trees help to reduce erosion and they help reduce flood damage in the landscape. Champion trees are determined by factors such as height and diameter and the champion titles are awarded to many varied species of tree. To learn all about this you could check out the website: https://www.americanforests.org/champion-trees/champion-trees-registry/?gclid=CjwKCAjwvfmoBhAwEiwAG2tqzCeucx870G8EmSA-OXPJOLXOSoRzVrLmS1n3rXgp5edKTnyUEIQMkRoCCfQQAvD_BwE. 

The tree highlighted today is in Ware County GA. It is a Live Oak or as the botanists call it Quercus virginiana. The trunk circumference is massive at 440 inches and reaches a height of 78 feet! The crown spread is a majestic 161 feet! 

Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova
Tereshkova was born in Russia in 1937! She is an engineer and cosmonaut who orbited the earth 48 times in June of 1963. She was an amateur skydiver before joining the air force and was commissioned as an officer after training. She later became a cosmonaut instructor!

Sally Ride
Ride was born in Los Angeles in 1951! She began working for Nasa in 1978. In college she did research on the interaction of X-rays with interstellar medium making her an excellent choice as mission specialist in 1983!

Helen Patricia Sharman
Sharman was born in Britain in 1963! She was a chemist and a cosmonaut who spent time aboard the ISS in 1991 doing research. Before being an astronaut, she worked for the General Electric Company in London and worked as a chemist for the Mars chocolate bar company.

Roberta Bondar
Bondar was born in 1945 in Ontario! She was head of international medicine research for the space station for ten years before becoming the payload specialist on a mission in 1992. She was also the first neurologist to go to space.

Mariam H. Fardous
Fardous was born in Saidi Arabia in 1884! She is an epidemiologist, humanitarian (serving as Ambassador for African Impacts), scuba diver, and worked as a doctor. She later became a cosmonaut and flew aboard the Axiom Mission in 2023!

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sally-Ride
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_women_astronauts

The Importance of Trees!

Trees are extremely important! We here at High Touch High Tech want to highlight trees and all the things they do! Have you heard of the heat island effect? This is where hot pavement and reflection from buildings increase temperature in urban areas. Trees help counteract this!

Did you know there are champion trees? Champion trees are determined by factors such as height and diameter and the champion titles are awarded to many species of tree. To learn all about this you could check out the website: https://www.americanforests.org/champion-trees/champion-trees-registry/?gclid=CjwKCAjwvfmoBhAwEiwAG2tqzCeucx870G8EmSA-OXPJOLXOSoRzVrLmS1n3rXgp5edKTnyUEIQMkRoCCfQQAvD_BwE.
The tree I am highlighting today is a Sand Hickory in Greenville South Carolina. The botanical name for this tree is Carya pallida. The trunk circumference is 134.3 inches, and it reaches a height of 151 feet! The crown is 80.5 feet!

When we think of innovators many people may come to mind suck as Nikoli Tesla, Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell. However, these popular innovators are simply the ones that have received the most “publicity”. Many more throughout history have been overlooked.

In Honor of National Hispanic American Heritage Month, we here at High Touch High Tech would like to honor a few Latinx Innovators!
Dr. Ynes Mexia was a botanist from Mexico who started her career late in life at 51. She collected specimens of plants from N and S America. She discovered close to 500 new species! Many of them were named after her!

Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena was an electrical engineer born in 1917 in Guadalajara, Mexico. He was fascinated with electrical engineering at a young age, which fostered a talent for the field. He studied Electrical engineering in Mexica Cito at National Polytechnic Institute in Mexico City. His passion led him to create a chromoscopic adaptar that could easily be added to black and white televisions and in 1940 a patent was filed! The first color image in Mexico was broadcast on Channel 5 with his invention! In 1979 during the Voyager mission his system helped convert images of Jupiter into color! Camarena was also a strong advocate of educational television.

Julio Palamaz of Argentina made advancements in angioplasty surgery! Working with Richard Schatz, a cardiologist, he parented an expandable stent to open heart arteries! He earned a place at the National Inventors Hall of Fame!

Maria Isabel Amorin is a chemist from Guatemala. She recognized the severe devastation caused by the fast fashion industry. Micro plastics and dyes were contributing to severe pollution in rivers. She designed a polymer filter to absorb the contaminating dyes. These filters are created from shrimp shells, which are a waste in the Guatemalan shrimping industry. What better way to utilize a “waste” into a product to eliminate pollution!

Dr Grisel Trujillo is a professor at the School of Engineering and Sciences at Tecnologico de Monterrey. Along with having a PhD in Biotechnology she invented a 3D printer that could print organs! This invention is patented and could save many lives as they wait for organ transplants!

There are many more contributions from Latinx innovators including Helen Gertrude Dominguez who contributed greatly to higher education, Ellen Ochoa who went on several space missions, Arturo Arias Suarez who designed earthquake sensing technology, and Albert Vinicio Baez who helped invent the X-ray reflection microscope! We here at Science Made Fun hope you get curious to discover more innovators! Please follow the links below to learn more!

https://www.history.com/articles/latino-hispanic-inventions

The world around us is full of incredible wonders — from soil teeming with life to raining diamonds on distant planets. These 15 science facts will open your eyes to how amazing our universe is.
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1. Soil Holds Billions of Microorganisms
A single teaspoon can hold over 8.2 billion microorganisms, including bacteria, algae, fungi, earthworms, ants, and mites. It also filters water, stores nutrients, and supports all plant life.
Try this soil experiment:
Dig 8 inches down and collect about a cup of soil. Put it in a clear jar, fill it with water, and shake. Let it sit overnight. You’ll see layers of organic material, clay, silt, and sand — a mini slice of Earth’s crust!
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2. Octopuses Have Blue Blood and Three Hearts
Octopuses are ancient, intelligent creatures that have existed for over 330 million years. Their blood is blue due to a copper-rich protein called hemocyanin. Two of their hearts pump blood to the gills, and the third sends oxygenated blood to the body.
Even more mind-blowing? Each arm contains its own neurons — essentially allowing the arms to “think” independently.
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3. Bananas Are Radioactive
Yes, bananas are slightly radioactive! This is due to their potassium-40 content, a naturally occurring isotope. Don’t worry — the radiation levels are incredibly low and completely safe. But it’s a fun fact that mixes everyday life with nuclear science!
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4. The Bajau People Can Hold Their Breath for 13 Minutes
The Bajau, a sea-dwelling people of the Philippines, can dive up to 70 meters and hold their breath for over 13 minutes. Their secret? They have larger spleens, a genetic adaptation that stores more oxygen-rich red blood cells. Generations of diving has literally reshaped their biology.
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5. Mosquitoes Are the World’s Deadliest Animal
Tiny mosquitoes are responsible for more human deaths than any other animal. They spread diseases like malaria, dengue, and yellow fever. According to the CDC, malaria alone causes hundreds of thousands of deaths each year — all from one tiny insect.
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6. It Rains Diamonds on Uranus and Neptune
Yes, really — diamonds might rain on these icy giants! The extreme pressure and cold in the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune can compress carbon into diamonds. Their skies are mostly hydrogen, helium, and methane, which also gives Neptune its brilliant blue color.
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7. Lake Maracaibo Has the Most Lightning in the World
Located in Venezuela, Lake Maracaibo holds the record for the most lightning strikes per square kilometer — over 232 per year! The combination of the lake’s geography and the tropical climate creates the perfect storm (literally).
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8. Russia Is Bigger Than Pluto
It sounds wild, but it’s true. Pluto is only about 16.7 million square kilometers, while Russia spans about 17 million. So yes, there’s a country on Earth larger than a planet!
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9. The Persian Gulf Feels Like a Hot Tub
The Persian Gulf is the warmest sea on Earth, reaching temperatures of 95°F (35°C) during summer. That’s as warm as many hot tubs! Swimming in it would feel less like a refreshing dip and more like a steamy soak.
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10. The Tallest Waterfall Is in Venezuela
You might guess Niagara Falls — but the tallest waterfall in the world is Angel Falls, in Venezuela. It plunges 3,212 feet (979 meters) — over 15 times taller than Niagara Falls!
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11. How many stars are there?
There are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on all the Earth’s beaches combined. Each star is like our sun — many with their own planets, moons, and potential for life. The scale of the cosmos is beyond imagination.
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12. Some Beaches Come in Pink, Green, and Black
Not all beaches are tan and white!
• Pink Sand Beach (Bahamas) gets its color from foraminifera, microscopic creatures with pink shells.
• Green Sand Beach (Hawaii) is made of olivine, a mineral found in volcanic lava.
• Black Sand Beaches in Hawaii, Iceland, and the Canary Islands come from eroded volcanic rock.
Nature is the ultimate artist.
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13. Saudi Arabia Has No Permanent Rivers
Despite being a large, populated country, Saudi Arabia has no permanent rivers. Instead, they rely on wadis — dry riverbeds that fill with water only during rare heavy rains. It’s an extraordinary example of how humans adapt to extreme environments.
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14. Sharks Have Been Around Longer Than Trees
Bonus fact time! Sharks have existed for over 400 million years, while trees appeared around 350 million years ago. That means sharks were swimming in the oceans 50 million years before the first tree took root.
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15. The Human Body Glows — Slightly
Humans emit a faint bioluminescence, though it’s about 1,000 times weaker than what the human eye can detect. It’s caused by metabolic reactions in our cells — meaning we’re glowing with life in more ways than one!
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Final Thoughts
Science is all around us, in our food, our bodies, our skies, and even in a teaspoon of dirt. So the next time you bite into a banana or look up at the stars, remember: the universe is full of “whoa!” moments waiting to be discovered.

https://www.britannica.com/science/soil
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/ten-wild-facts-about-octopuses-they-have-three-hearts-big-brains-and-blue-blood-7625828/
https://www.rd.com/list/science-facts-never-learned/
https://www.sciencealert.com/all-bananas-really-are-radioactive-an-expert-explains-what-that-means
https://culturacolectiva.com/en/history/bajau-tribe-phillippines-sea-nomads-hold-breath-longest/
https://www.npr.org/2024/07/08/nx-s1-5026612/mosquitos-kill-more-people-than-any-other-creature-the-cdc-warns
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/malaria/symptoms-causes/syc-20351184
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dengue-fever/symptoms-causes/syc-20353078
https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-fever/symptoms-diagnosis-treatment/index.html
https://www.space.com/diamond-rain-atmosphere-uranus-neptune
https://geology.com/records/lightning-hotspots/#google_vignette
https://www.worldfamousthings.com/amazing-facts-of-the-world/

One of our most popular programs here at High Touch High Tech is called Sounds Like Fun! In this program we explore sound waves and perform a few experiments with sound. This class is especially enjoyable by all the students because creating sound is fun!

They know of course that they hear sound, but how? We explore how the ear works and examine the anatomy of the ear.
One way to see sound waves is to examine the vibration of a tuning fork when put into still water.

But are people able to see sound? Studies have shown that approximately one in 2000 people experience visuals with sound. The phenomenon is called synesthesia, where one sensory pathway leads to experiences in another sensory pathway. This can manifest in different ways with different senses.

The most common type of synesthesia is when colors are seen while hearing sounds. Most often this happens when listening to music. This is called chromesthesia. The propensity to have visuals when listening tends to happen in families which clued scientists to discover that it is in part genetic.

Chromesthesia is often experienced with musical and visual artists. Reports of this ability have been seen all the way back to the 1800’s. One of those reports is in the early 1900s from a Russian composer and pianist named Alexander Scriabin. He even developed his own color system to organize the 12 chromatic pitches. And he invented a keyboard with lights!

Some examples of artists today who have this ability are Billy Eilish, Billy Joel, Tori Amos, and Kaitlin Hova. Kaitlin is a violinist and a neuroscientist!
The visual of colors when hearing sound often comes in the form of a flash of color. According to Kaitlin Hova when she was at the University of Nebraska of Omaha that she realized that she has a form of synesthesia. The lack of information on the subject inspired her and her husband to start The Synesthesia Network. She also, along with her husband, designed a violin that changes color to represent the visuals she has!

Tori Amos speaks openly about her experience and describes it , “Similar chord progressions follow similar light patterns, but try to imagine the best kaleidoscope ever.”

Billy Joel describes his experience as seeing color with either vowel or consonant sounds. He says he sees blue or green with words or song phrases ending in strong vowel sounds and consonants as having more red hues!

Billie Eilish experiences seeing shapes, colors, and feeling textures when hearing music! She says sometimes, for example, a melody could have a yellow hue with a smooth flowing texture. Sometimes she creates music with a color and texture in mind and sometimes she experiences it when the music is created. To express this ability, she designs sets in her live performances to bring the audience along with her!

As an instructor I introduce a variety of experiments to introduce the science of sound waves to children. Imagine having the capability to see those sound waves in the form of flashes of color or even smell them! Kaitlin Hova had no idea others didn’t experience what she had experienced her whole life, until she learned about this trait. I wonder if any of the children I have presented the program to have seen colors or had smells along with the sounds! It is certainly another eye-opening insight into human capabilities.

https://www.livescience.com/1408-sight-sound-trick-brain.html

https://www.soundoflife.com/blogs/experiences/seeing-sound-hearing-colours-exploring-the-concept-of-chromesthesia

https://thesynesthesianetwork.com/

https://www.wokewaves.com/posts/billie-eilish-synesthesia-music-visual-art