Alan Yu

Reporter

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

Tenant Virgina Mendoza stays cool with her fan and air conditioner, at her home in Apartamentos Las Americas during a well-being check by the Chicago Housing Authority Friday, July 6, 2012, in Chicago. (M. Spencer Green/AP Photo, file)

Philly workshops help seniors avoid heat health hazards

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health, along with Lutheran Disaster Response, local climate scientists and community groups are or ...

6 years ago

Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) finds himself stranded and alone on Mars

Science can make blockbuster movies better

Hollywood directors have a direct line to consulting scientists. Let’s say you’re a filmmaker. You want to put a littl ...

6 years ago

Listen 7:49

The Philadelphia Branch of the Abacus Federal Savings Bank on North 10th Street in Chinatown. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

After 2008 financial crisis, only one bank faced criminal charges. Why?

Only one bank faced criminal charges after the 2008 financial crisis. It’s not a big one like ...

6 years ago

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Bioengineer Nancy Pleshko ordered takeout from an Italian restaurant on her way from her lab at Temple University to her home in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. This is what she and her two teenage children at home have for dinner around once a week, to save time. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

The ‘baby penalty’ often sidelines female scientists

Married women scientists with children are less likely to get a tenure track job than married men with children. Nancy Pleshko, a ...

6 years ago

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Biologist Patricia Brennan prepares a female dolphin’s reproductive tract for dissection. (Alan Yu/WHYY)

Why we should pay for science that sounds silly

A biologist says her research on dolphin sex is worth public investment. A whole bunch of dolphin clitorises are laid out on a tab ...

6 years ago

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Cows from a dairy farm in Central Pennsylvania. (Dani Fresh for WHYY)

Why don’t more farms convert poop to power?

Imagine 7,000 gallons of cow manure. It smells. Brett Reinford’s dairy farm in Central Pennsylvania has 700 cows, and that& ...

6 years ago

Listen 6:04

Brianna Wu has been outspoken about sexism in male-dominated video game culture. (Photo by Shannon Grant, courtesy of Brianna Wu)

Game developer wants to take her cultural critique to Congress

Brianna Wu has been outspoken about sexism in male-dominated video game culture. Brianna Wu has loved video games ever since she w ...

7 years ago

Listen 5:06

A technician looks at pig whipworm eggs through a microscope in the lab where they are produced and purified. (Photo courtesy of John Fleming, Detlev Goj)

Why one man swallowed parasitic worm eggs

Hint: It offered a slight chance of rebooting his damaged immune system. About ten years ago, ...

7 years ago

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Justin Wood, who has Type 1 diabetes, tested an experimental artificial pancreas. (Alan Yu/ WHYY)

Artificial pancreas could mean “freedom” for diabetic patients

For years, people have been frustrated with the slow pace of innovation in diabetes care. About one million Americans have Type 1 d ...

7 years ago

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