
Alan was all set on majoring in biology, but then he realized he liked writing about science more than doing research, so he left Hong Kong and went to study journalism in the U.S. After interning at NPR and WBEZ in Chicago, he has never wanted to work anywhere outside of public radio. He covers space and all other kinds of innovation. He enjoys comic books, LEGO, and dragon boating.
More from the Contributor
CEO of the College of Physicians, Mütter Museum resigns after a tumultuous 2 years
Dr. Mira Irons' brief tenure was marked by turmoil; a mass exodus of staff, and major changes in terms of the museum’s online exhibits.
6 days ago
Listen 1:45As they prepare to dole out newly updated booster shots, local health workers are trying to incorporate lessons learned from three years’ worth of vaccine campaigns.
2 weeks ago
Listen 4:03Staff and shoppers at a Montco garden store saved a woman and her baby
Rasheida Colon said the people in the store “literally saved my life because it could have been so bad.”
2 months ago
Listen 2:42Where can the U.S. put 88,000 tons of nuclear waste?
While the U.S. struggles to build long-term storage for nuclear waste, other countries like Sweden, Finland, and Canada move forward with plans for geologic repositories.
3 months ago
Listen 10:51How clinics in the Philadelphia area are dealing with a national shortage of penicillin
This injectable form of penicillin is a critical treatment for infections like syphilis, and could be in short supply for the rest of the year.
3 months ago
Listen 1:38After years of advocacy, Medicare finally extends coverage for kidney transplant recipients
Despite the win, many services are still not covered, and this does not apply to patients who receive other organs.
4 months ago
Listen 2:54Philadelphia Insectarium evicted: ‘Every window and every mirror was shattered’
The museum's managers had not paid the mortgage for years, leading to a debt of close to $1 million.
4 months ago
Philadelphia Insectarium to close, will be evicted on May 30
The science museum in the city’s Northeast has been on a roller coaster of financial and other problems for several years now.
4 months ago
Life after a shock: Why heart patients need access to mental health care
An implantable defibrillator can save patients who have unusual heart rhythms. But some of them also need help to deal with painful and anxiety inducing shocks.
5 months ago
Listen 12:32Should there be standards for acupuncture in the U.S.?
If you get acupuncture in the U.S., chances are you will pay for it out of pocket. Some acupuncturists say having standards for the industry gives more people access.
5 months ago
Listen 11:40Why did the Mütter Museum take down all their YouTube videos and online exhibits?
There has been an ongoing, broader discussion around displaying human remains, which has brought up some difficult questions many institutions are grappling with.
5 months ago
Listen 7:04Behind the scenes of a $200 million nuclear fusion experiment
How scientists and engineers make parts for a nuclear fusion experiment at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory in New Jersey.
7 months ago
Listen 8:58