SUBSTANCE  
Stories about the stuff that shapes our world.

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Latest Episode: Enzymes

In this episode of SUBSTANCE, host Joe Hanson explores how enzymes are improving everyday household items and how cutting-edge enzyme research could help address climate change.

Dr. Oliver Spangenberg, senior leader in industrial biotechnology at BASF, explains how enzymes enable detergents to remove stubborn stains at lower temperatures and in shorter wash cycles. They therefore help reduce household energy consumption while protecting fabrics and extending the life of clothing.

Later in the episode, guest expert Jessica Swanson, Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University of Utah, USA, discusses her research into how enzymes are used by methane-consuming bacteria. Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and Swanson’s team is investigating how biological systems naturally convert it into other compounds. 

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Our guest: Dr. Oliver Spangenberg

Dr. Oliver Spangenberg is a senior leader in industrial biotechnology at BASF with more than 20 years of experience leading product development, and global R&D organizations in the home care industry. Holding a PhD in Biology from the University of Göttingen, Germany, and his thesis done at the the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences in Göttingen, he combines deep scientific expertise with a strong track record of translating innovation into sustainable business success. In his current role at BASF, he leads global enzyme development and manages a R&D portfolio across the full innovation lifecycle – from discovery to commercialization.

Our guest: Associate Professor Jessica Swanson

Dr. Jessica Swanson is associate professor of chemistry at the University of Utah, USA, since 2019. Her team is working to improve the efficiency of systems called bioreactors that utilize enyzmes and bacteria to convert methan gas from waste streams, such as landfills and abandoned oil wells, into useful products before they escape into the atmosphere. Swanson obtained her PhD in Physical Chemistry at the University of California San Diego in 2006. From 2010 to 2019 she worked at Argonne National Lab and the University of Chicago, USA. 

Our host: Joe Hanson, PhD 

Joe Hanson is an internationally recognized science communicator. Before working in science media and education, he researched genetic engineering and cancer biology, obtaining a PhD in biology from the University of Texas.

He is the creator, host, and head writer of Be Smart, a YouTube science education show with more than 5 million subscribers on YouTube.
Hanson has won Webby and Telly Awards and the Kavli Science Journalism Award for his work. 

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