Xavier Lopez

Xavier Lopez is an associate producer for WHYY’s The Pulse. Before joining the team he worked as a newsroom intern and then a freelance producer for WHYY’s daily news shows, The Why and Radio Times. He’s a graduate of The City University of New York’s Baruch College and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. Xavier is very passionate about radio and podcasts. He loves bad TV shows, sad music and a good joke.

More from the Contributor

COVID-19 has ripped through communities with high rates of household crowding. Ana Cordero and her family felt that firsthand. An inside look into how the virus spreads in cramped multigenerational homes. Ana (left) as a young girl (at 6 years old) with her family at The Bronx Zoo. (Courtesy of Ana Cordero)

The Pulse

Health

When togetherness means home is no safe haven

COVID-19 has ripped through communities with high rates of household crowding. An inside look into how the virus spreads in cramped multigenerational homes.

2 months ago

Listen 19:27

Many people experience inappropriate, uncontrallable laughter during really intense situations, when things aren't very funny. Turns out, that this is a type of emotion regulation at work. (LogotypeVector / Big Stock Photo)

The Pulse

Health

Why we sometimes laugh during inappropriate times

Some people laugh when they want to cry, or cry when they want to laugh. Turns out, there’s a type of emotion regulation at work.

3 months ago

Listen 8:41

Philly City Foot Doc podiatrists (from left) Priscilla Howie, Kim Nguyen and Michael Walinsky outside their South Street offices. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

Health

Private medical practices suffer from the coronavirus’s many complications

Physicians providing outpatient care say they are losing business, which affects their staff. They also lack PPE and COVID testing supplies.

8 months ago

Listen 1:56

For the past 17 years, Dan Blumstein and his research team have skied into the Crested Butte Mountains of Colorado to conduct their annual scientific observations on yellow-bellied marmots. In 2020, the coronavirus is threatening to shut down this research and other types of field research throughout the world. (Image courtesy of Gina Johnson)

The Pulse

Science

How the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted field research

Lack of data gathering could have a major impact on ecological studies and the young scientists who do them.

9 months ago

Listen 10:57

David Fajgenbaum leads a research lab at the University of Pennsylvania dedicated to studying Castleman disease, a rare illness that nearly killed him five times. He has recently shifted his focus to look at ways of treating COVID-19. (Courtesy of David Fajgenbaum)

The Pulse

Science

Penn doctor uses his near-death experiences to research why COVID-19 patients crash

Facing the cytokine storm — David Fajgenbaum brings his first-hand experience with cytokine storms to bear on this new coronavirus.

10 months ago

Listen 09:10

A runner at Ridge Avenue and Spring Garden Street on Tuesday, March 24, 2020. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

Health

Exercise is good for us. Even more so now that we’re stuck at home

We’re all a little stressed during these “stay-at-home” days. The health benefits of exercise can help counteract the impacts of isolation.

10 months ago

An employee at the Coco Thai Bistro lays out some of the shop's new biodegradable products. (Xavier Lopez for WHYY)

Community

Narberth businesses nixing plastic bags, straws as ban kicks in

Narberth Borough’s ban on plastic straws, mandated fee for plastic bags kick in April 17. Businesses are on board, but will have to pay more for eco-friendly alternatives.

2 years ago

Listen 1:45