© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

The Beaker Explores Earthquakes, Wind Chill; NASA's Role in Civil Rights

The Connecticut Gological Survey
Geologic Map of Connecticut

Following a series of small earthquakes in the eastern part of Connecticut, WNPR’s Patrick Skahill set out on a mission to find out what was causing so many to occur over such a short period of time. Turns out, to fully understand, you have to go back hundreds of millions of years to a time when our state was being rocked by a massive continental collision. 

This hour, Patrick joins us along with a local geologist to explain some of this fascinating geologic history. We also learn a bit about wind chill -- including what it is and how it affects the way we feel.

And later, we talk to a scholar and a former NASA engineer about a new book they’re both part of. It’s called We Could Not Fail: The First African Americans in the Space Program, and it takes a look at NASA’s role in promoting integration during the Civil Rights era.

GUESTS:

  • Patrick Skahill - WNPR’s science and environment reporter and host of The Beaker
  • Maureen Long - Assistant Professor at Yale University in the Department of Geology and Geophysics
  • Steven Moss - Associate Professor at Texas State Technical College in Waco, TX; co-author of We Could Not Fail: The First African Americans in the Space Program
  • Morgan Watson - Founder and President of the engineering consulting firm Minority Engineers of Louisiana

Chion Wolf contributed to this show. 

Tags

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

Related Content