Science Matters

04/24/2026

04/21/2026

It’s 50॰F in the fall and you reach for a jacket. It’s 50॰F in the spring and some intrepid souls run outside in shorts? Why does the same temperature feel cold in October and warm in April? Science Might Surprise You! Dr. Rose Basom, biological anthropologist and David and Jane Cohn Scientist at the Science Museum of Virginia, shares her insights on the phenomenon of acclimation.

The brain is the nerve center that regulates blood flow, sweat glands, and heart rate; vital activities that help us adjust to environmental changes. Want to learn more?
https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/why-65-degree-day-feels-cold-fall-warm-spring

04/20/2026

The Monarch is the only butterfly on Earth to make a two-way migration across North America, but it’s a journey no single individual can finish alone. This 6,000-mile odyssey is a trans-generational relay race, requiring multiple generations to complete the loop from Mexico to Canada, and back again. A crucial pitstop on this voyage is Big Meadows in Shenandoah—an open landscape first cleared by Indigenous hunter-gatherers nearly 9,000 years ago. Here, the butterflies seek out milkweed to lay their eggs. While this plant is poisonous to most creatures, the hatched caterpillars thrive on it, absorbing toxins and developing bold black and yellow stripes that warn predators to stay away. Guided by a mysterious biological compass, the next generation takes up the torch and continues one of nature's most epic voyages.
Shenandoah is produced by Orange Frame Productions, presented and co-produced by VPM, with the cooperation of Shenandoah National Park. The documentary premieres on the PBS app and broadcast April 23rd, and will be released on VPM's Youtube channel on the 24th.

04/16/2026

From the perfectly engineered hexagons of honeycomb to candles, soaps, and healing salves, Dr. Hollee Freeman explores one of the hive’s most incredible mate...

04/15/2026

04/15/2026

Bees play a pivotal role in our ecosystem. From sustaining biodiversity to supporting food production, humans and wildlife everywhere rely on bees and other pollinators to survive. VPM and Fuel & 19RED are shining a spotlight on these crucial critters in a new digital series on VPM Spark called Bee Thoughtful with Dr. Hollee Freeman.

A new VPM Spark series, Bee Thoughtful with Dr. Hollee Freeman, invites viewers into the world of bees, exploring their vital role and the deeper connections between nature, community and care.

04/06/2026

Have you ever wondered what goes on inside a bee hive? Our new digital series, Bee Thoughtful with Dr. Hollee Freeman, gives you a closer look! You can watch the first episode now on our new VPM Spark YouTube channel! Fuel & 19RED petersburgoasisyouthfarm

03/25/2026

You hear about artificial intelligence (AI) all over the media nowadays. Is it a good thing or something from a science fiction nightmare? Science Might Surprise You! In honor of National AI Literacy Day, March 27, Rick Hamilton, Principal for Hamilton & Boss, shares his insights on using and creating with AI wisely, while identifying AI's benefits and potential downfalls.
One of the headliners in AI right now is an artificial intelligence chatbot known as ChatGPT. Curious how it works?
https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/ChatGPT

Want to go further and explore more of the good, bad, and scary aspects of AI? This could be a great conversation starter with the family.
https://eng.vt.edu/magazine/stories/fall-2023/ai.html #:~:text=The%20Good:%20Improved%20accessibility%20and,of%20life%20for%20everyday%20users.%E2%80%9D

02/27/2026

Mystery looms around a blood moon. What creates this phenomenon? Science Might Surprise You! Justin Bartel, Asst. Director of Education, Astronomy Programs at the Science Museum of Virginia, reveals the science behind how the Earth, the sun, and the moon in the right alignment can create such a mystifying sight.
Curious about when you can view the next blood moon? You can also catch up on a past eclipse if you missed it. https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/blood-moon.html

Want to learn more about the science of lunar eclipses and blood moons?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yb5aqdIFco

01/27/2026

Stars in a baby nursery? Science Might Surprise You! Dr. Adele Plunkett, Astronomer with the U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory, gives us a glimpse of how baby stars are born and nurtured in stellar nurseries.
Ever wonder how newborn stars prepare for the birth of planets?
https://public.nrao.edu/news/how-newborn-stars-prepare-for-the-birth-of-planets/
Want to do a little stargazing with the family? Check out this guide from the American Museum of Natural History.
https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/astronomy/a-kids-guide-to-stargazing