Charles Bergquist

Charles Bergquist is the director and a contributing producer for PRI's Science Friday. His favorite stories involve chemistry, inventions, nanotechnology, and shiny things with blinking lights.

Since the inception of commercial air travel, the insides of airplane cabins have been associated with a higher likelihood of catching a cold or other spreadable disease. New research has sought out to see if scientific facts back up those sentiments.

Study examines how diseases really spread during air travel

Airplane cabins have been labeled as strong sources of germs and spreadable diseases. But how likely is it we'll really get sick from planes?

Study examines how diseases really spread during air travel
Those who have the neurological condition synesthesia often automatically see colors when they hear music or see numbers or letters.

Study begins to reveal genetic ties behind a neurological phenomenon

Study begins to reveal genetic ties behind a neurological phenomenon
Flamingos have enjoyed a resurgence in Florida over the last 50 years. Notice that the young flamingo in the middle is gray and not the iconic pink. Flamingos gain their pinkish color over time through their diet — mainly shrimp.

New study sheds light on the debate over the origins of flamingos in Florida

New study sheds light on the debate over the origins of flamingos in Florida
This image is from a video made in 2011 that compiled visualizations of the Antarctic ozone hole. Recent findings have shown that the hole is filling up — while other parts of ozone remain on the decline.

The ozone hole over the Antarctic is beginning to fill up. Here's the bad news.

The ozone hole over the Antarctic is beginning to fill up. Here's the bad news.
Activity using Strava's tracking technologies such as the one above has helped the company produce a heat map of the world using one billion total activities.

Recent discovery on Strava heat map points out the ease of leaking data through social media platforms

Recent discovery on Strava heat map points out the ease of leaking data through social media platforms
LED street lights

Even when it's not the holiday season, outdoor lighting is on the rise

'Tis the season for garish holiday displays. But outdoor lighting is a year-long phenomenon, and it might be having unintended consequences.

Even when it's not the holiday season, outdoor lighting is on the rise
Coal

Another way to look at the fossil record? By examining coal.

If you’re like most people, you probably think of coal as a chunk of black fossil fuel. Geologist Jen O’Keefe sees it differently.

Another way to look at the fossil record? By examining coal.
Soccer ball

New research finds that heading the soccer ball may be riskier for women than men

They "found that women tended to have damage to a greater part of their brain and to more discrete areas of the brain than the men who headed the ball the same amount."

New research finds that heading the soccer ball may be riskier for women than men
Florida panther

Keeping tabs on the elusive Florida panther

A longtime program to collar the endangered cats may be coming to an end. What happens next?

Keeping tabs on the elusive Florida panther
Captcha

CAPTCHAs are supposed to separate humans from robots online, but now AI can crack them

Artificial intelligence can now crack CAPTCHAs, and the implications go far beyond our Internet surfing.

CAPTCHAs are supposed to separate humans from robots online, but now AI can crack them
neutron star collision

In a long-ago neutron star collision, scientists find a cosmic goldmine

Around 130 million years ago, two neutron stars — those strange, compacted cores of dead stars — collided. Scientists recently detected the signals from that collision, in the form of gravitational waves and electromagnetic signals.

In a long-ago neutron star collision, scientists find a cosmic goldmine
Moon

The Trump administration wants to put Americans back on the moon

Russia, the European Space Agency, Japan and China are all interested in lunar missions. For the Trump administration, “it could be a very smart international or geopolitical tool if they do it correctly,” says science journalist Loren Grush.

The Trump administration wants to put Americans back on the moon
Monument Rocks

Hunting sea monsters in Kansas is easier than you might think

Finding sea monsters in Kansas is “pretty low tech,” one paleontologist says. “You walk around and look at the ground until you find something.”

Hunting sea monsters in Kansas is easier than you might think
A Boeing 777 jet departing Frankfurt, Germany.

The lab where aging aircraft are dissected for science — and safety

At the Aging Aircraft Lab, planes are taken apart piece by piece to learn more about the ravages of time on various aircraft designs — from cracking, to corrosion, to metal fatigue.

The lab where aging aircraft are dissected for science — and safety
Solar farm

An entirely renewable energy future is possible, a new study says

Every week we hear about more solar or wind resources coming online. New research suggests that humanity could accelerate this process and be running the world entirely on renewable energy by the year 2050.

An entirely renewable energy future is possible, a new study says