Small Matters

Series produced by Meisa Salaita

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The audio series where we sweat the little things.

Small Matters is an audio series that tells stories about the little things in life – the invisible world of chemistry. Our pieces explore everything from the origins of life to the microscopic mating trails left by marine crustaceans.
Small Matters is produced by the Center for Chemical Evolution with funding from the National Science Foundation and additional support from NASA. Our reporters are Ari Daniel Shapiro and Meisa Salaita and our editor is Eileen Bolinsky.


13 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. And discussions about expanding educational and career opportunities in STEM fi...

Bought by WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., New Hampshire Public Radio, WRST-FM Oshkosh, KUOW, and PRX Remix


  • Added: Feb 23, 2015
  • Length: 05:30
  • Purchases: 5
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Artist Amy Landesberg has teamed up with scientists to expand her exhibits and installations. She's contemplated how molecules evolve to form life...

  • Added: Jan 27, 2015
  • Length: 01:47
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We bring you a story about how experiments can uncover hidden truths. In science, experiments lead to medical breakthroughs and newer, faster techn...

Bought by KSFR


  • Added: Jan 27, 2015
  • Length: 05:23
  • Purchases: 1
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Sometimes a little bit of protection can mean the difference between everything and nothing. We head now to the middle of the Pacific Ocean, where...

Bought by New Hampshire Public Radio


  • Added: Jan 23, 2015
  • Length: 05:30
  • Purchases: 1
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Scientists are our modern day explorers… they populate lab benches, fume hoods, and field sites all over the world. And many times, their curiosit...

  • Added: Jan 23, 2015
  • Length: 05:20
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Sometimes people find their passion early in life… and then don’t stray from the course. This story is about just such a person, and what her devo...

Bought by WTJU


  • Added: Jun 17, 2014
  • Length: 05:30
  • Purchases: 1
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You’ve probably heard of fusion restaurants that combine two different types of cuisine in their cooking. Well, this story’s about a restaurant th...

Bought by New Hampshire Public Radio, WABE, and PRX Remix


  • Added: Jun 17, 2014
  • Length: 05:23
  • Purchases: 3
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A single question can be a powerful force. It can open up an entire field of study. It can inhabit someone, shaping who they become. And it can ...

Bought by WABE, Radio Newark, New Hampshire Public Radio, PRX Remix, and KUOW


  • Added: Jun 17, 2014
  • Length: 05:30
  • Purchases: 5
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The way we talk about finding a romantic partner is biased. Take “love is in the air” or “love at first sight.” These idioms assume that feelings m...

Bought by Radio Newark, XRAY.fm, New Hampshire Public Radio, Here and Now, Radio Newark and more


  • Added: Aug 16, 2013
  • Length: 05:30
  • Purchases: 6
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Let's turn our attention to two cities – Atlanta, Georgia and Dharamsala, India. They’re on opposite sides of the planet, but a unique partnership...

Bought by WABE, Radio Newark, PRX Remix, and Radio Newark


  • Added: Jun 17, 2013
  • Length: 05:30
  • Purchases: 4
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If you've ever gone swimming in a pool, you probably know that feeling of trying to overtake the person one lane over. As you come up from behind,...

Bought by Radio Newark, PRX Remix, and Radio Newark


  • Added: Jun 17, 2013
  • Length: 05:25
  • Purchases: 3
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Seeking out clues to the origins of chemistry - and life - in outer space.

  • Added: Apr 03, 2013
  • Length: 05:30
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Once in a while, if you’re lucky, you catch a glimpse of something that gives away a secret of the universe. It’s like a window – up into the heav...

Bought by Radio Newark, WTJU, PRX Remix, and Radio Newark


  • Added: Mar 20, 2013
  • Length: 05:30
  • Purchases: 4