In the third episode of this month, we re-explore the world of lunar resource utilization with Timon Schild, a PhD student at the European Space Resources Innovation Center (ESRIC). Join us as Timon unpacks the concept of In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) and its implications for future lunar missions.

Timon shares insights on lunar regolith—what it is, how it forms, and the unique challenges it presents for exploration and extraction. We also discuss cutting-edge technologies like molten salt electrolysis that could enable us to extract oxygen and metals directly from lunar material.

USEFUL LINKS

ESRIC - https://www.esric.lu/

Space Resources Week 2025 - https://www.spaceresourcesweek.lu/

More about Timon Schild - https://www.list.lu/en/news/spotlight-on-phd-student-timon-schild-eyes-on-the-moon-and-feet-on-the-ground/?no_cache=1&cHash=1eeb39a62b3a2d51ccc7f97d41a753ab

Take-Off Show Episode about Space - https://youtu.be/O5keQCzCJ8w?si=QA-E69iZcrT_LrXN

In this week's episode, we talked to Professor Charles Spence, head of the Crossmodal Research Laboratory at the University of Oxford. Known for his innovative research on how our senses interact to shape our experiences, Professor Spence shares fascinating insights into the psychology of taste and smell.

Join us as we explore the implications of this research for food design, the ethics of sensory manipulation, and the future of dining experiences. From the impact of cutlery weight to the role of sensory overload in our modern lives, this episode is a rich tapestry of science, curiosity, and culinary delight.

USEFUL LINKS:

The Crossmodal Research Laboratory at the University of Oxford - https://www.futureoffood.ox.ac.uk/article/crossmodal-research-laboratory

More about Prof. Charles Spence - https://www.psy.ox.ac.uk/people/charles-spence

Gastrophysics: The New Science of Eating by Charles Spence - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32970441-gastrophysics

Senshacking by Charles Spence - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42184219-sensehacking

And what if we looked closer at our hair?

In our latest episode, our guest is Prof. Brice Appenzeller, head of the Human Biomonitoring Research Unit at the Luxembourg Institute of Health. After reminding our listeners what exposome is, Brice elaborates on the various agents we may be exposed to, including physical, microbiological, and chemical pollutants. He emphasizes that while we often hear about individual pollutants, the reality is that we are exposed to a complex mixture of chemicals on a daily basis. This multifaceted exposure can significantly impact our health, making it crucial for us to understand and monitor these interactions.

One of the key methods Brice discusses is biomonitoring, which involves analyzing biological samples—such as urine, blood, and hair—to detect the presence of chemicals or their by-products. Hair samples, in particular, offer a fascinating insight into long-term exposure and can reveal compounds that may not be detectable in other types of samples. And this is Brice's specialisation.

USEFUL LINKS

Brice Appenzeller on LIH Website - https://researchportal.lih.lu/en/persons/brice-appenzeller/projects/

Society of Hair Testing - https://www.soht.org/

RELATED EPISODES:

- Interview with Prof. Emma Schymanski: https://www.scilux.eu/episodes/unknown-chemicals

- Interview with Dr. Dagny Aurich: https://www.scilux.eu/episodes/exposomics

- Interview with Dr. Guy Fagherazzi: https://www.scilux.eu/episodes/colive-voice

The episode cover is designed using a graphic downloaded from vecteezy.com

In this episode learn more about environmental engineering from Dr. Silvia Venditti, an expert in nature-based solutions for water treatment. With a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College London, Silvia is currently working at the University of Luxembourg, focusing on the removal of micropollutants from wastewater.

Silvia explains how nature-based solutions mimic natural processes to restore ecosystems, offering low-cost, resilient alternatives to traditional high-tech methods. Discover the challenges and innovations in using constructed wetlands to tackle micropollutants and the potential for creating valuable resources from waste.

Silvia also shares insights into her projects aiming to integrate nature-based solutions in urban areas and address stormwater runoff.

USEFUL LINKS

Silvia Venditti's research - https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Silvia-Venditti

More about nature-based solutions - https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/research-area/environment/nature-based-solutions_en

EmiSûre project - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duH7tUYrXB8

Constructed wetlands - FNR Highlights: https://www.fnr.lu/research-with-impact-fnr-highlight/spotlight-on-young-researchers-constructed-wetlands-a-new-approach-to-treating-wastewater/

Amazing Polish book about water - https://wydawnictwopoznanskie.pl/produkt/woda-historia-pewnego-porwania-seria-reporterska-wydawnictwa-poznanskiego/

Buckle up and embark on a journey beyond our solar system with the latest episode featuring Professor Christiane Helling, director of the Space Research Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences and a professor at Graz University of Technology. With a focus on exoplanets and cloud formation, Professor Helling offers a glimpse into the fascinating field of space science.

This episode is not just a scientific discourse; it's a celebration of human curiosity and the relentless pursuit of knowledge - and as Prof. Helling puts it, it's a community effort.

USEFUL LINKS

Austrian Academy of Sciences - https://www.oeaw.ac.at/en
Graz University of Technology - https://www.tugraz.at/en/home/
SuperWASP telescope - https://www.superwasp.org/
TESS mission - https://science.nasa.gov/mission/tess
CHEOPS mission - https://cheops.unibe.ch/
James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) - https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/

Join us as we talk with Professor Massimo Morelli, whose research spans economics, politics, and law. Having worked at top universities and now researching at LISER, he explains how trust shapes our economy and politics.

He breaks down two types of trust: trust between people and businesses (horizontal), and trust in our institutions (vertical). Both are key to how well countries and markets work.

We then discuss why populism is growing and how it affects the economy. Morelli explains that populist leaders win support by making straightforward promises, like protecting local jobs, even if these solutions oversimplify complex problems.

The discussion also extends to the European Union, where Professor Morelli sees opportunities for rebuilding trust through global and European policies that address common challenges, such as unemployment insurance and tax reforms.

USEFUL LINKS

Massimo Morelli's Website: https://massimomorelli.eu/
Massimo Morelli on TedX: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBkoXabxsxQ&pp=ygUPbWFzc2ltbyBtb3JlbGxp
Lecture at the University of Auckland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luAUTYFYHc8
From Weber to Kafka: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OulhWPno_8

Step into the world of small states and islands with Professor Godfrey Baldacchino (University of Malta), Malta's first thematic ambassador for islands and small states. In our latest podcast episode, we unravel the complex tapestry of smallness, exploring how seemingly minor entities can wield significant influence on the global stage.

Listen now to gain a deeper understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities faced by small states and islands. It is really worth letting Prof. Baldacchino be your guide.

USEFUL LINKS

About Godfrey Baldacchino - https://www.um.edu.mt/profile/godfreybaldacchino
University of Malta - https://www.um.edu.mt/
Godfrey Baldacchino on Smallness - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6--l2FLAOCk&t=179s
Alliance of Small Island States - https://www.aosis.org/

In this captivating episode of SciLux, we visit the digital history realm with Professor Valérie Schafer, a leading researcher in Contemporary European History at the Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History (C2DH). Professor Schafer guides us through the concept of born digital heritage, uncovering the layers of web archives and their significance in preserving our digital past.

We also explore the dynamic world of online virality, discussing the unpredictable yet impactful nature of viral phenomena. From the early days of the Internet to the rise of memes, discover how digital culture has evolved and continues to shape our online interactions. Also learn about the role of emotions in virality and journey through the history of CD-ROMs, Prof. Schafer's next project.

USEFUL LINKS (more links on our Website):

Prof. Schafer on C2DH Website: https://www.c2dh.uni.lu/people/valerie-schafer

Wayback Machine - http://web.archive.org/

C2DH Podcast with Valerie and Niels Bruger - https://open.spotify.com/episode/6dYIHFp8qfdofgvMAwXdxy?si=HbsQv1hxQ3ywlWqTbDoluA

HIVI project - https://hivi.uni.lu/

Online Virality publication - https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783111311371/html

Know your Meme - https://knowyourmeme.com/

Minitel - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minitel

(Dist)dances : an anthropology of dance on the Internet: "(Dist)danses: une anthropologie des danses sur internet" - Sous la direction de Elina Djebbari, Mahalia Lassibille et Laura Stei: https://journals.openedition.org/emulations/1770