Union College in Schenectady, New York has selected its next president. Elizabeth Kiss will become the private institution’s first female president in its 230-year history.And new research reveals new details about the nervous system of octopuses.

Artificial intelligence is reinventing scientific research. We’ll speak with a scientist who says machine learning can be used to develop anti-venoms for toxic snakebites.And Connecticut has hired its first student loan ombudsperson. We’ll speak with them about their goals in their new role.

A team of researchers uses lasers to unveil tattoos on ancient Peruvian mummies.And modern 3D imaging technology is being used to uncover dinosaurs’ diets and how they changed hundreds of millions of years ago.

New York’s governor has proposed free community college for adults retraining for careers in high-demand fields. We’ll speak with the chancellor of the state’s public college and university system about the idea.A new lab at Western New England University is dedicated to studying “extended reality.”And Marist College has officially rebranded as Marist University

Sea ice in the Southern Ocean is melting, leading to increased ocean heat loss and stronger storms. We’ll speak with a climate scientist to learn more.And New York’s largest teachers’ union is backing a proposal to ban cell phones in classrooms across the state.

According to new research, stars similar to our own sun may produce superflares about once per century.And after the death of American filmmaker David Lynch, we’ll speak with a film studies professor about how Lynch’s films impacted him and his students.

2024 was the hottest year on record. We’ll speak with a NASA climate scientist to learn more.And a new study suggests evidence of water reserves deep underground on Mars.

On this episode, we’ll learn about how an increase in research spending over decades has changed NYU.And we’ll speak with an international scholar in the area of therapy dogs in classrooms.

This week, we’ll celebrate the best of The Best of Our Knowledge in 2024.We’ll visit a former pig barn that is serving as a temporary home to the largest collection of popular music in the world.We’ll spend time at the intersection of music and evolutionary theory.And we’ll learn how children’s ideas are brought to life in glass.

The Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York has expanded. Officials say new lab space will make the facility a national leader in cancer research.And we’ll learn about a giant centipede with a talent for toxins.