Going from a rigid, straight spaghetti strand to a bendable, curved noodle involves the absorption of water. How pasta’s maleable structure can reveal mechanical properties useful for understanding movement.

Click above to hear part 2 of Eclectic Company, featuring Oliver O’Reilly, professor of mechanical engineering, University of California Berkeley.

Eclectic Company:
Part 1: Tony Wyss-Coray / Anti-Aging
Part 2: Oliver O’Reilly / Spaghetti Structure
Part 3: Moriba Jah / Space Junk

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for our three part series on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

Big Picture Science is an immersive radio show and podcast that reveals the unexpected connections in science.

Our Skeptic Check episodes take a critical look at extraordinary science claims and pseudoscience.

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Molly Bentley Executive Producer and Co-Host, Big Picture Science  

Seth Shostak Producer and Co-Host, Big Picture Science
Senior Astronomer, SETI Institute

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