Ever wondered how engineers and scientists solve problems or create new technology? Engineers Explain Everything is a series of short conversations with Missouri S&T researchers, students and alumni exploring their ideas, insights and innovations. Listen to discover how it all works — no engineering degree required.
⛏️A Missouri S&T College of Engineering and Computing production | www.mst.edu
What is PetroBowl, and what does it take for a team to be the best in North America? Abdul Mujeeb Kassim, captain of Missouri S&T's PetroBowl team, discusses the competition, the petroleum engineering field and what inspired him to move from Ghana to Rolla, Missouri, to earn a master's degree at S&T.
17 Apr 2026
The Intersection of Buildings and Behavior
Malachi Rein explains his work as director of the Building Energy Exchange St. Louis and how architectural engineering blends technical design with human behavior, history and the ways people interact with buildings.
11 Apr 2026
World Champs: Missouri S&T’s Mars Rover Design Team
What does it take to build a world-champion Mars rover for the annual University Rover Challenge? Chase Stem, CEO of Missouri S&T’s Mars Rover Design Team, discusses the team’s work, what the challenge includes and why the experience is so valuable for students.
2 Apr 2026
Flying Cars Are Coming — And They’ll Be Electric
Set in 2062, The Jetsons imagined a future with flying cars. Engineers today are working to make these vehicles a reality sooner than the Jetsons timeline may suggest. Dr. Xiaosong Du explains how AI-driven design is being used to develop electric aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing, how they work and when we might start seeing them in the skies with passengers.
24 Mar 2026
Liquid Gold: Extracting Metals with Water-Based Solutions
You combine crushed rock with water and cyanide. You double-check your notes, built on the wisdom of generations past. Eventually, you have liquid gold — and you have the power to turn it into solid gold whenever you want.
Are you a wizard? No — even better. You’re a hydrometallurgist.
Dr. Michael Moats explains what hydrometallurgy is, how it differs from traditional furnace-based methods and why it is a crucial process for producing the metals we rely on every day.
18 Mar 2026
Everything You Didn’t Know About Glass (and Why It Matters)
When most people think about how glass can be used, storing nuclear waste probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But it’s a major part of Dr. Charmayne Lonergan’s research. In this episode, she explains what glass is and some of its most fascinating uses, such as in extreme environments, wound care and cancer treatments.
12 Mar 2026
Microwaved Curry and the Future of Pharmaceuticals
Microwaving turmeric might sound like a step in a recipe book, but it’s actually part of Dr. Hany El-Azab’s biomedical engineering research. El-Azab explains how microwave-assisted chemistry could create new derivatives of curcumin — the pigment in turmeric known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties — that may stay in the body longer and enhance its health benefits. He also explains how catalysts and flow reactors work and how these technologies could potentially lower the cost of prescription drugs.
10 Mar 2026
How to Have a Blast: Explosives Engineering Explained
Explosives engineers make things go boom. But it’s more complicated than that. Dr. Catherine Johnson explains what explosives engineering entails, the career possibilities in the field, her fascinating research — and even the time she helped Ozzy Osbourne set off explosives at the Missouri S&T Experimental Mine.
5 Mar 2026
The Hottest Topic in Academia — Literally
Hypersonic vehicles travel at least five times the speed of sound and can experience temperatures twice as hot as molten lava. Engineers like Dr. William Fahrenholtz are developing advanced ceramic materials that can withstand these extreme conditions and protect what’s inside the vehicles. Fahrenholtz explains what this research involves and why it matters.
3 Mar 2026
Absorb This: Engineering Everyday Paper
Paper products are part of everyday life, but their performance depends on expert engineers. What makes a paper towel truly superior? Why do toilet paper companies even need to market their products? How does paper actually work? Dr. Hossein Abedsoltan from Missouri S&T explains these topics and more.
26 Feb 2026
The Big Potential of Small Nuclear Reactors
Big developments in nuclear energy are increasingly centered on smaller reactor designs. Dr. Joshua Schlegel explains what a small modular nuclear reactor is, how these smaller reactors differ from traditional plants, how nuclear power works in general, and how decommissioned mine sites could also factor into the picture.
23 Feb 2026
These Minerals Are Vital for National Security and the Economy
Many of the key materials that make modern technology possible are classified by the U.S. government as critical minerals. Dr. Kwame Awuah-Offei explains why these materials matter for national security and economic stability and why it is vital for the U.S. to improve its domestic supply chain and rely less on other countries. He also explains how Missouri S&T and its Tech Hub are leading national efforts to address this challenge.
19 Feb 2026
Timmy the Tree: Plant Detective (Phytoforensics)
Plants don’t talk, but engineers know how to make them tell stories. Dr. Joel Burken explains phytoforensics — a concept developed at Missouri S&T that uses plants to detect and monitor environmental contamination. Along the way, he also explains what environmental engineering is, what environmental engineers actually do, and why their work matters.
17 Feb 2026
What is Engineering, Anyway?
Dr. David Bayless helps unpack what engineers actually do and why the field is so important. From different engineering disciplines to research on bioreactors designed for the moon, the conversation explores how engineers tackle big challenges — and how Missouri S&T is leading the way.
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