In this episode of Rust Belt Science, we sit down with Dr. Louis Muglia—physician-scientist, visionary leader, and passionate advocate for interdisciplinary research. Together, we explore how the spirit of Renaissance thinking—where science, art, philosophy, and curiosity intersect—can help reignite wonder and push the boundaries of modern discovery.

Dr. Muglia shares insights from his own cross-disciplinary journey, discusses the value of integrating diverse fields to solve complex problems, and reflects on how embracing a broader view of science can empower communities, This conversation is an invitation to reimagine how we think, learn, and innovate.

What if the future of life could be written—not in words, but in proteins? In this episode of Rust Belt Science, authors Shahir Rizk and Maggie Fink talk about their new book, The Color of North: The Molecular Language of Proteins and the Future of Life. Together, they unpack how proteins act as a hidden code shaping everything from the cells in our bodies to the possibilities of synthetic biology.

We dive into how their collaboration blends hard science with human narrative, why the language of proteins matters now more than ever, and how this molecular perspective could transform medicine, agriculture, and even how we define life itself.

In this episode of Rust Belt Science, we journey into the deep cosmos with astronomer Roman Gerasimov to explore how ancient stars hold the secrets of the universe's past. Gerasimov, whose work focuses on the chemical composition of some of the oldest known stars, explains how these stellar relics act like time capsules—preserving the fingerprints of cosmic events from billions of years ago. We discuss what the early universe was made of, how heavier elements formed, and why the Milky Way’s outer halo might be the key to understanding galaxy formation. From brown dwarfs to stellar archaeology, this conversation shines light on how we piece together the story of everything—from hydrogen to humanity.