Garden of Marvels (Rebroadcast) #479
June 22, 2018
This week we're learning about botany and the colorful science of gardening. Author Ruth Kassinger joins us to discuss her book "A Garden of Marvels: How We Discovered that Flowers Have Sex, Leaves Eat Air, and Other Secrets of the Way Plants Work." And we'll speak to NASA researcher Gioia Massa about her work to solve the technical challenges of gardening in space.
Guests:
- Ruth Kassinger
- Gioia Massa
Guest Bios
Ruth Kassinger
Ruth is an award-winning author of science and history books including "Paradise Under Glass", "A Garden of Marvels", and "Slime". In addition, her science and health writing has appeared in the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, National Geographic Explorer, and other publications. She received a B.A. degree from Yale University and a Master's degree from Johns Hopkins University, and is currently fascinated by developments in the science and technology of converting algae into energy.
Gioia Massa
Dr. Gioia Massa is a project scientist at Kennedy Space Center and the science team lead for the Veggie hardware verification test. She holds a Ph.D in plant biology and has done postdoctoral work in the areas of food production and bioregenerative life support. She has been interested in growing plants in space since her first agriculture class at age 12.