About Technology Today Podcast
The Technology Today Podcast launched in November 2018, offering a new way to listen and learn about the technology, science, engineering and research impacting our lives and changing our world. The podcast is presented by Southwest Research Institute, a nonprofit contract R&D organization developing innovative solutions for government and industry clients. Podcast host Lisa Peña is breaking through the tech jargon and talking to the scientists, engineers and researchers building the future of technology. It’s a conversation bringing tech to life and helping us understand how technology, science, engineering and research link to our daily lives.
All Episodes
Episode 18
Combatting COVID-19
April 6, 2020 | 37:07
The novel Coronavirus is raging through communities around the world. It’s a virus never before seen in humans, and therefore, not recognized by our immune systems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people over.... MORE
Episode 17
A Superhydrophobic Solution
March 16, 2020 | 31:36
The award-winning LotusFlo™ superhydrophobic coating is solving a major problem in offshore oil drilling. Substances often clog pipes, slowing or stopping the flow of oil. This innovative coating applied through a unique plasma process keeps... MORE
Episode 16
Superior Signals Intelligence
February 17, 2020 | 31:40
Antennas make modern communication possible from mobile phones to Wi-Fi. They also make our communities safer by supporting emergency, law enforcement and national security efforts. Even though they are vital to our way of life, we rarely hear... MORE
Episode 15
Hypersonic Progress
January 20, 2020 | 32:00
The future will be fast! That’s why our guests launch projectiles faster than Mach 5, five times the speed of sound. They’re studying hypersonic speeds in an SwRI lab, reaching thousands of miles per hour and temperatures hotter than the sun. In this episode... MORE
Episode 14
Extreme Product Testing
December 16, 2019 | 27:28
It’s shopping season. When we buy electronics and other products, we expect them to be reliable and safe. Our guest today is a product assurance expert who subjects consumer products and other equipment to a range of adverse conditions. Before you buy... MORE
Episode 13
Our First Anniversary!
November 18, 2019 | 27:19
The Technology Today Podcast is celebrating one year of giving listeners an inside perspective on world-changing science, engineering, research and technology through informative conversations with institute scientists and engineers. On this... MORE
Episode 12
Detecting Cancer with AI
October 21, 2019 | 30:57
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In this episode, we highlight an innovative technology for doctors treating patients with breast cancer. SwRI engineers and pathologists from UT Health San Antonio combined their expertise to develop a computer... MORE
Episode 11
Exploring Earthquakes
September 16, 2019 | 26:34
Rumbling and shaking during an earthquake can trigger liquefaction, a dangerous process that causes solid ground to behave like a liquid. This can result in widespread destruction. Our guest today is part of a team working to predict where liquefaction may occur. So how... MORE
Episode 10
Unraveling a Hurricane
August 19, 2019 | 30:33
Collecting data from a hurricane before it makes landfall is key to saving lives and property. While current hurricane models can predict the path, there are often gaps in accurately predicting a storm’s intensity or strength. NASA’s Cyclone Global... MORE
Episode 9
Guarding Our Groundwater
July 15, 2019 | 28:05
When we turn on the tap, many of us are tapping into the groundwater system. Whether your water comes from an aquifer or well, groundwater is flowing into your home. A range of issues, from too much pumping to changes in climate can threaten... MORE
Episode 8
Additive Manufacturing
June 17, 2019 | 29:46
For thousands of years, people have made things the same way, carving out a tool or a part from a bigger chunk of material. While humankind has had great achievements through conventional manufacturing, there’s a new manufacturing method... MORE
Episode 7
Human Digital Twins
May 20, 2019 | 30:09
Do you wear a device to track your steps, heart rate or sleep patterns? Collecting data about ourselves is becoming mainstream. Add that information to your medical data and you have the makings of your own human digital twin. Our guests in this episode are... MORE
Episode 6
Simulating an Ocean
April 15, 2019 | 24:36
How do you lessen the chance of a deep sea disaster? Put your equipment through rigorous testing before it ever hits the water. Testing underwater equipment in the ocean is costly, but necessary for safety. The SwRI Ocean Simulation Lab is a reliable alternative... MORE
Episode 5
The Automated Driver
March 14, 2019 | 34:51
Join us on a road trip. Our destination? The future of driving. Our guest is Dr. Steve Dellenback, vice president of the Intelligent Systems Division at Southwest Research Institute and an expert in the field of automated vehicles, or self-driving... MORE
Episode 4
The Beauty of Data
February 11, 2019 | 30:54
What happens when you add art to science and engineering? Our guest in this episode is Dr. Amy McCleney, a Southwest Research Institute fluids engineer. She’s collecting data in a creative, colorful way. In addition to running numbers and poring over spreadsheets... MORE
Episode 3
Serving Up Science
January 14, 2019 | 25:35
What’s in our food? Scientists are chopping, grinding and pureeing their way to answers. In this episode, we meet food chemistry expert Lorraine Scheller, a food lab manager at Southwest Research Institute. Learn how her team breaks down our food, both fresh... MORE
Episode 2
Robots in the Real World
December 10, 2018 | 30:48
Robots are busy behind the scenes, contributing to a variety of industries. How do robots impact our daily lives? What tasks are they taking on and who’s using them? SwRI robotics expert Matt Robinson says everything manufactured today is being... MORE
Episode 1
New Horizons Ultima Thule Flyby
November 12, 2018 | 31:06
Get ready for a front row seat on a history-making mission to the far reaches of the outer solar system! Southwest Research Institute space scientist Alan Stern is leading NASA’s galactic journey to the Kuiper Belt to explore 2014 MU69, or Ultima Thule... MORE
Ask us Anything
Have a question about technology, science, engineering or research? Submit your question to our host, Lisa Peña and your question may be answered on a future podcast episode or SwRI's social media!