
Electricity Bills, Andi the "Manikin," Asylum Policy Blocked
Season 2023 Episode 147 | 26m 58sVideo has Closed Captions
First outdoor and sweating manikin, summer electricity bills, federal judge blocked policy
ANDI is the world's first outdoor sweating, breathing "manikin." ANDI is funded by an NSF Major Research Instrumentation Grant. In the hot summer, what are residents to do if they can't afford their electricity bills? The ACC has instituted a policy for APS to not shut off electricity for non-payment during the summer. A federal judge blocked the Biden Administration's new asylum policy.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Arizona Horizon is a local public television program presented by Arizona PBS

Electricity Bills, Andi the "Manikin," Asylum Policy Blocked
Season 2023 Episode 147 | 26m 58sVideo has Closed Captions
ANDI is the world's first outdoor sweating, breathing "manikin." ANDI is funded by an NSF Major Research Instrumentation Grant. In the hot summer, what are residents to do if they can't afford their electricity bills? The ACC has instituted a policy for APS to not shut off electricity for non-payment during the summer. A federal judge blocked the Biden Administration's new asylum policy.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Arizona Horizon
Arizona Horizon is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> Ted: NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, DETAILS ON A FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S NEW RESTRICTION OPPOSE THOSE SEEKING ASYLUM IN THE U.S. WHAT ARE RESIDENTS TO DO IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD THEIR ELECTRICITY BILLS AND A HIGH TECH MANNEQUIN TO HELP RESEARCHERS STUDY THE IMPACT OF HEAT ON THE HUMAN BODY.
THAT'S NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."
>> Announcer: THIS HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FRIENDS OF PBS, MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION.
THANK YOU.
>> Ted: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.
I'M TED SIMONS.
THE FEDERAL RESERVE RAISED INTEREST RATES AGAIN AND THIS TIME BY A QUARTER POINT WHICH LISTS THE SHORT-TERM RATE FROM 5.1 TO 5.3% AND THE HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE 2001 AND IT'S THE 11th TIME IN 17 MONTHS THAT THE FEDS RAISED RATES TO TRY TO EASE INFLATION AND FED CHAIR, JEROME POWELL, SAYS ANOTHER HIKE COULD SOON BE ON THE WAY.
>> I WOULD SAY IT IS CERTAINLY POSSIBLE WE WOULD RAISE FUNDS AGAIN AT THE SEPTEMBER MEETING AND I WOULD SAY IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WE WOULD CHOOSE TO HOLD STEADY AT THAT MEETING.
WE'LL BE MAKING ESTIMATES MEETING BY MEETING AND I'LL SAY WE'VE RAISED THE FEDERAL FUNDS BY 520 BASES POINTS SINCE MARCH OF 2022.
MONETARY POLICY IS PUTTING DOWN PRESSURE ON ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND INFLATION.
>> Ted: ANALYSTS NOTE INFLATION HAS EASED TO THE SLOWEST PACE IN TWO YEARS AND THE FED KEEPS HIKING INTEREST RATES IN REACTION TO AN ECONOMY THAT CONTINUES TO GROW TOO FAST AS AMERICANS KEEP SPENDING AND BUSINESSES KEEP HIRING.
>>> PRESIDENT BIDEN'S SON, HUNTER BIDEN, PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO A PAIR OF TAX CRIMES AND BIDEN WAS EXPECTED TO PLEAD GUILTY AND IT FELL THROUGH DUE TO THE JUDGE'S CONCERNS OVER THE AGREEMENT.
THE JUDGE SPECIFICALLY NOTED CONFUSION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT BIDEN WOULD BE PROTECTED FROM FUTURE CHARGES.
REPUBLICANS ON CAPITOL HILL APPLAUDED THE JUDGE'S DECISION.
>> IT'S VERY TELLING THAT THE JUDGE INTERVENED HERE AND SAID, BASICALLY, NO, I WON'T PROVE A SWEETENING BLANKET DEAL AND THE COURT HAS SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT OTHER POTENTIAL CHARGES AND THE SCOPE OF THE DEAL WHICH SEEMED OUTRAGEOUS FROM THE BEGINNING.
LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
THIS MAY CHANGE AGAIN IN THE NEXT HOUR, BUT THIS SIGNALS THAT THERE'S STILL VERY MUCH POTENTIAL FOR PROSECUTION.
>> Ted: THE FEDERAL JUDGE IN THIS CASE WAS APPOINTED BY FORMER DONALD TRUMP, A FREQUENT AND PERSISTENT CRITIC OF THE BIDEN FAMILY AND THE JUDGE WAS CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE.
>> AND SINGING, SINEAD O'CONNOR WANT HAS DIED AND SHE WAS 56.
SHE WAS A TROUBLED SINGER, SONG WRITER AND KNOWN FOR HER STRUGGLES WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND HER COMMANDING STAGE PRESENCE.
SINEAD O'CONNOR IS DEAD AT 56.
>>> A FEDERAL JUDGE YESTERDAY BLOCKED THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S NEW RESTRICTIONS OB THOSE ON THOSE SEEKING ASYLUM IN THE U.S.
THEY DISQUALIFY THOSE CROSSING INTO THE U.S.
WITHOUT SECURING AN APPOINTMENT AT AN OFFICIAL PORT OF ENTRY OR SEEKING LEGAL PROTECTION IN ANOTHER COUNTRY.
FOR MORE ON THE DECISION, WE WELCOME ANGELA BANKS AND SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR, COLLEGE OF LAW.
WHAT EXACTLY DID THE JUDGE RULE?
>> THE NEW POLICY ADOPTED BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WAS CONTRARY TO LAW AND THIS EFFECTIVELY THINKING ABOUT U.S. CONGRESS HAD PASSED THE REFUGEE ACT IN 1980 ACING 1980 ANYBODY SEEKING ASYLUM, NOT HOW OR WHERE THEY ENTER AND THE COURT DECIDED THERE WAS A CONFLICT BETWEEN THIS POLICY.
>> Ted: YOU CAN'T JUST SEEK ASYLUM WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION OR SOME REQUIREMENTS.
>> SO WHAT IT DID, IT CREATED, AND THIS IS SIGHTLY LEGAL, A PRESUMPTION WOULD BE INELIGIBLE IF THEY CAME TO THE UNITED STATES SEEKING ASYLUM AND PASSED THROUGH ANOTHER COUNTRY ON THEIR WAY TO THE UNITED STATES AND DIDN'T SEEK ASYLUM IN ONE OF THE OTHER COUNTRIES.
SO SAY, FOR EXAMPLE SOMEBODY IS FROM EL SALVADOR AND GO THROUGH NEW MEXICO AND DON'T GO THROUGH NEW MEXICO AND THE GOVERNMENT ASSUMES THEY'RE NOT ELIGIBLE UNLESS THEY FALL THROUGH TWO CATEGORIES.
THEY'RE COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES BASED ON A PAROLE PROGRAM AND THE SECOND THAT THEY HAVE A PRESCHEDULED APPOINTMENT TO PRESENT THEMSELVES THEMSELVES AT THE BORDER AND THEY DID APPLY FOR ASYLUM THROUGH ANOTHER COUNTRY AND WERE DENIED.
>> Ted: HOW OFTEN DO THOSE TRAVELING AT THE BORDER QUALIFY FOR ANY OF THOSE THREE?
>> IT'S GOING TO BE HARD.
IT'S GOING TO BE QUITE HARD BECAUSE, FIRST OF ALL, THE PAROLE PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INDIVIDUALS FROM CUBA, HAITI, VENEZUELA, NICARAGUA OR UKRAINE.
IF YOUONE OF THE TOOLS FOR THE PRESCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS IS AN APP CALLED CBP ONE AND YOU CAN GO ON AND USE THE APP TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS.
WITH ALL OF THE TECHNOLOGY, THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF GLITCHES AND PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY USE THAT TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS AND MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT APPLYING IN ANOTHER COUNTRY TO SEEK ASYLUM.
>> Ted: I WOULD THINK AN APP, FOR FOLKS MAKING THIS, JUST A BRUTAL TREK AND FOLKS NOT AS SOPHISTICATED, AND I CAN'T IMAGINE THERE BEING THAT MANY APPS AVAILABLE FOR THESE FOLKS.
>> WHAT'S INTERESTING CELL PHONE USAGE IN A LOT OF PARTS IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD ARE HIGH AND A LOT OF PEOPLE UTILIZE THEM AND ONE OF THE MORE TECHNICAL CHALLENGES IS WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE THE LITERACY NECESSARY TO USE THE APP AND WHETHER OR NOT THE INFORMATION READILY AVAILABLE THE APP IS ASKING FOR AND THOSE HAVE BEEN ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES.
IF MAYBE YOU LOST YOUR PHONE THROUGH THE JOURNEY.
>> Ted: THE JUDGE SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, ASYLUM, WHAT, CAN BE CLAIMED NO MATTER HOW YOU GET TO THE COUNTRY?
>> THE LAW CONGRESS ENACTED WITH THE REFUGEE ACT IS THAT YOU CAN APPLY FOR ASYLUM REGARDLESS OF WHEN YOU ENTER OR HOW YOU ENTER.
>> Ted: THE JUDGE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS ARBITRARY.
>> THAT CONGRESS CREATED AND THAT TENSION MEANS THEY DON'T GET TO STAND.
>> Ted: OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S RULING, BUT THEY CAME RIGHT AFTER TITLE 42.
>> RIGHT.
>> Ted: EXPLAIN THAT DYNAMIC.
>> DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WHEN COVID WAS SORT OF ON THE RISE AND AT THE HEIGHT, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION USED TITLE 41 TO PROHIBIT ALL ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM SEEKING ASYLUM IN THE UNITED STATES AND BASED ON PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS.
THERE WAS CRITICISM IT LASTED WELL BEYOND AND CONCERNS AND WHEN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, IT CONTINUED THE PROHIBITION AND AS YOU MENTIONED, THEY ENDED THAT TITLE 42 USE AFTER IN MAY AND WHAT WOULD BE IN ITS PLACE AND THAT IS THE POLICY THEY ADOPTED.
>> Ted: ARIZONA'S TWO SENATORS WERE CONCERNED AND IT WOULD END AND YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD BREAK LOOSE AT THE BORDER.
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PUTS THE FREUDIAN SLIP THERE BECAUSE THIS SOUNDS LIKE WHAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DID.
>> THE JUDGE HEARD PRE-COVID INTRODUCING ADDITIONAL KINDS OF LIMATIONS ON ACCESS TO ASYLUM.
IN MANY WAYS, THE COURT HELD THAT THE USE OF LIMATIONS WHAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DID AND NONE OF THEM WOULD STAND.
>> Ted: THE SAME JUDGE DOING THE SAME DECISION.
>> THEY VIOLATED THE CONGRESS OF WHAT THE LAW IS.
>> Ted: DESPITE THIS, IS THE POLICY IN PLACE?
>> THE JUDGE STAID HIS DECISION WHILE THEY SEEK AN APPEAL.
>> Ted: I'M READING THAT SINCE THIS HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE, APPREHENSIONS AT THE BORDER HAVE PLUMMETED AND SOME ARE SAYING BECAUSE OF THESE NEURULAS NEW RULES AND ARE YOU BUYING THAT?
>> WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT THE MULTITUDE OF REASONS THIS COULD BE HAPPENING AND MIGRATION HAPPENS IN CYCLES AND EVERY YEAR WE HAVE CYCLES WHERE THERE ARE HIGH NUMBERS OF PEOPLE SEEKING ENTRY AND LOW PERIODS.
AS WE KNOW IN ARIZONA, THE WEATHER IS HOT AND NOW IS NOT A HOSPITABLE TIME TO GET TO THE UNITED STATES.
IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHETHER THIS IS LOW MIGRATION OR WHETHER THIS IS TIED TO THE ADMINISTRATION'S POLICIES.
>> Ted: IF AFTER 14 DAYS AND I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THE APPEAL PROCESS GOES THROUGH AND THIS LOOKS LIKE THIS WILL GO AWAY OR BE REPLACED BY SOMETHING ELSE, DO WE EXPECT THE SURGE THAT EVERYBODY EXPECTED AFTER TITLE 42 WENT AWAY?
>> AGAIN, IF I COULD PREDICT THAT, I WOULD HAVE ANOTHER JOB.
, BUT,BUT I THINK FALL IS WHEN WE SEE INCREASES IN MIGRATION AND WHAT THE POLICIES ARE AND WHAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS INDICATING, THAT YOU WON'T HAVE A SHOT AT ASYLUM.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT PEOPLE ARE USUALLY SEEKING ASYLUM BECAUSE THEY ARE FLEEING DIFFICULT LIFE-THREATENING CIRCUMSTANCES AND SO MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TAKE THE CHANCE TO SAVE THEIR LIVES REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE POLICY IS.
>> Ted: IS THAT STILL THE CASE FOR ASSYLUM SEEKERS BECAUSE THESE ARE FOLKS SAYING I DON'T LIKE WHERE I AM OR PERCENTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND IT'S JUST SOMEONE TRYING TO GET TO THE U.S.
IN.
>> WELL, I THINK WHAT IS MORE LIKELY THAT OUR ASYLUM LAW RECOGNIZES PEOPLE PERSECUTED OR A WELL-FOUNDED FEAR ON RACE, RELIGION, NATIONALITY OR LITTLE OPINION.
PEOPLE ARE FACING PERSECUTION THAT MAY NOT FALL INTO ONE OF THE FIVE CATEGORIES AND DOESN'T MAKE IT LESS HARROWING BUT DOESN'T FIT WHAT QUALIFIES YOU.
>> Ted: WHAT'S NEXT?
>> I THINK THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WILL TAKE ANOTHER BITE AT THE APPLE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TWEAK ASYLUM LAW IN THE UNITED STATES.
>> Ted: ANGELA BANKS, THANK YOU AND GREAT INFORMATION.
GREAT TO YOU HAVE HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Ted: UP NEXT, WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE WHO CAN'T PAY THEIR ELECTRICITY BILL IN THIS HOTTEST TIME OF THE YEAR >> CONCERNS OVER POWER SHUT OFF TO THOSE NOT PAYING ELECTRICITY BILLS BY DISCONNECT POLICY FORCES REGULATED POLICIES AND THIS WAS AFTER A LOCAL WOMAN WHO HAD HER POWER CUT OFF FOR OWING $50 TO AM APS.
THERE'S OPTIONS FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T PAY ELECTRICITY BILLS IN THE HOTTEST TIME OF THE YEAR.
WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.
THIS IS IMPORTANT ABOUT PROGRAMS THAT ARE OUT THERE AND WHAT THE NEXT STEPS CAN BE.
>> Ted: SOMEONE IS WATCHING AND IT COULD BE A NEIGHBOR, FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER AND HAVING TROUBLE PAYING BILLS AND WHAT DO THEY NEED TO KNOW IN.
>> TO CONTACT THEIR UTILITY AND LET THEM KNOW THEY'RE HAVING CHALLENGES.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AT THE COMMISSION, WE HAVE PASSED A DISCONNECT MORATORIUM AND NOT DISCONNECTED FOR SERVICE.
IN A HOME FROM JUNE 1st TO OCTOBER 15th AND IMPORTANT TO COMMUNITY WHETHER THERE'S DEVICES AT HOME SO YOU CAN WORK OUT A PAYMENT PLAN.
>> Ted: JUNE 1st TO OCTOBER 15th AND IS IT TRUE, IF HALF THE BILL IS PAID IN THE PAST 25 DAYS, IS DOES THAT STILL WORK?
>> EACH I'M HAS DIFFERENT UTILITY HAS DIFFERENT RULES AND WORKING ON EACH INDIVIDUAL ISSUE.
>> Ted: SIX MONTHS, CUSTOMER WAS GIVEN SIX MONTHS TO PAY OFF BILLS WITH REGULATED UTILITIES.
DOES THAT SOUND FAMILIAR?
>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, WORKING OUT A PAYMENT PLAN.
WHEN WE PASSED THIS, A LOT OF FOLKS WERE CONCERNED.
THEY'RE WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH EACH CUSTOMER ONE-ON-ONE.
>> Ted: THEY WERE CONCERNED NO ONE WOULD PAY AND ARE THEY PAYING?
>> THEY ARE AND ADDITIONAL PROGRAM, REBATE PROGRAMS AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR WEATHERIZATION AND A LOT OF PROGRAMS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TO LESSEN THEIR BILLS AND CATCH UP IF THEY'VE GOTTEN BEHIND.
>> Ted: YOU FOE, KNOW, THEY CALLED AND APS AND WHAT HAPPENS?
WHAT HAPPENS FROM THERE?
>> THEY'LL BE NOTIFIED THERE IS NO DISCONNECTION AT THIS TIME AND, OF COURSE, THAT IS MONEY OWED AND PROBABLY REFERRED TO DIFFERENT PROGRAMS TO BECOME MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT DEPENDING ON THEIR SITUATION AND A PAYMENT PLAN CAN BE WORKED OUT.
THERE ARE LOW ASSISTANT PROGRAMS AND THEY'LL BE REFERRED TO DIFFERENT AGENCIES, NON-PROJECTS AND GOVERNMENT ENTITIES THAT HELP IN THAT REGARD.
>> Ted: THE BOTTOM LINE IS THERE ARE ASSISTANT PROGRAMS OUT THERE AND YOU HAVE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
>> THE FIRST STEP IS TO CONTACT YOUR UTILITY, GO ONLINE IF YOU'RE ANGLE TO AT ABLE TO AND FIND OUT WHAT THE PROGRAMS ARE.
>> Ted: ONCE WE GET TO OCTOBER 15th AND IT CAN GET HOT IN OCTOBER, DON'T UTILITIES HAVE TO GIVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF NOTICE BEFORE A DISCONNECT OCCURS?
>> CERTAINLY OUTREACH TO CUSTOMERS SO THEY'RE FULLY AWARE AND THERE'S A SYSTEM WHERE YOU CAN NOTIFY A FRIEND OR NEIGHBOR OF YOUR BILL IN CASE YOU DON'T HAVE TELEPHONE SERVICE OR SOMETHING ELSE HAS OCCURRED AND PEOPLE ARE AWARE YOU'VE FALLEN BEHIND.
WE'RE GETTING UP SAFETY NETS FOR CUSTOMERS.
>> Ted: SRP ARE NOT INVOLVED AND NOT A REGULATED UTILITY.
BECAUSE GET THAT CONFUSED.
>> THEY DO.
>> Ted: THEY DON'T CALL THAT COMMISSION.
>> IF THEY CALL THE COMMISSION, WE'LL REFER THEM TO A PARTICULAR UTILITY AND IT'S IMPORTANT THEY'RE COMMUNICATING.
>> Ted: THE REACTION OF THE COMMISSION AND THERE ARE SOME LOCAL SHUNS, CHAMPIONS AND BACK IN 2018, AND I THINK STEPHANIE PULLMAN WAS HER NAME.
>> MIGHT HAVE BEEN 2019.
>> Ted: IT '19, OK, AND THAT WAS A HIGH PROFILE CASE AND GOT PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THIS AND HOW MUCH OF A FACTOR WAS THAT IN MOVING THIS ISSUE ALONG?
>> SUCH A SAD SITUATION AND A LARGE FACTOR.
I WAS NEW AT THE TIME AND WE WERE UNPACKING THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND HOW DID WE PUT SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE AND WHAT WERE THE UTILITIES DOING AND SOME INCONSISTENCIES AND IT WAS IMPORTANT TO TACKLE THAT AS A ROLE.
>> Ted: THIS SEEMS HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT IT DOES GET COLD IN ARIZONA, AND GO WE HAVE SIMILAR POLICIES, ESPECIALLY WITH GAS?
>> THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT AND WE'RE STATE-WIDE COMMISSIONERS AND WE HAD TO WORK ON A ROLE THAT WAS FAIR AND CHOICE, WHETHER IT BE THE DATE OR A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE IN TERMS OF COLD WEATHER OR HOT WEATHER FOR THE I'MS IN DIFFERENT PARTS UTILITIES P. >> Ted: HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE USING THE GUIDANCE?
>> IN TERMS OF NOT GETTING DISCONNECTED?
>> I'M SURE IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN BE UPDATED ON REGULARLY, IF NEEDED.
>> Ted: DOES IT SEEM LIKE THERE MORE PEOPLE?
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE FACING FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS AND A NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AT THAT TIME AND I HAVEN'T HEARD AS MANY CUSTOMERS NEEDING THE ADDITIONAL SERVICE THIS SUMMER AND I THINK THERE'S A GREATER AWARENESS IT EXISTS, WHICH IS GOOD AND PROGRAMS LIKE YOURS HELPING US PROMOTE AND EDUCATE CUSTOMERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE THAT THERE IS A DISCONNECT MORATORIUM AND I THINK THIS IS SO IMPORTANT.
>> Ted: LAST QUESTION, THE CONCEPT OF HIGH RATES AND BASICALLY LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, HIGH RATES, ALWAYS A CONCERN AMONG CUSTOMERS AND A CONCERN, I WOULD IMAGINE AT THE CORPORATION COMMISSION, AS WELL.
HOW DO YOU WORK THAT DYNAMIC?
>> IT'S A CONCERN FOR MYSELF AS A COMMISSIONER AND A BALANCE.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THERE'S THE THE.
ER INFRASTRUCTURE ANDTHE.
PROPER INFRASTRUCTURE.
COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR >> Ted: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> Ted: CUSTOM BUILT FOR THE UNIVERSITY TO STUDY AND UNDERSTAND THE HUMAN BODY'S RESPONSE TO EXTREME HEAT AND WE'RE JOINED NOW BY KONRAD RYKACHEVKSI AND MATTER AND TRANSPORT AND ENERGY AND YOU GUYS HAVE THE LONGEST TITLES THERE AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
JENNIFER, WE'LL START WITH YOU AND WE'LL START WITH ANDY AND WHO OR WHAT IS ANDY?
>> SO ANDY ACTUALLY IS ADVANCED DYNAMIC INSTRUMENT AND THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD THAT'S ABLE TO GO OUTSIDE IN OUR EXTREME CONDITIONS HERE.
IT CAN SWEAT AND IT CAN BREATHE AND REALLY HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING UNDER THE MOST EXTREME ENVIRONMENT TO THE HUMAN BODY.
>> Ted: MIMMICKS THE THERMAL ACTION OF THE HUMAN BODY?
>> EXACTLY.
>> Ted: AND CUSTOM BUILT FOR YOU GUYS.
>> FOR OUR PROJECT FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.
>> Ted: KONRAD, HOW MANY SENSORS AND WHAT ARE THEY DOING IN THERE?
>> SO ANDY HAS 35 DIFFERENT SERVICE ZONES AND EACH ONE HAS SENSORS TO MEASURE HOW MUCH HEAT GOES IN OR OUT OF YOUR BODY AND THE YOU MEASURE THE TEMPERATURE AND INDIVIDUALLY CONTROL THE SWEAT RATE.
AS YOU KNOW, YOU SWEAT PROBABLY A LOT MORE ON YOUR BACK THAN ON YOUR PINKY.
SO WE'RE ABLE TO CONTROL ALL OF THOSE FLOW RATES INDIVIDUALLY.
>> Ted: I READ HE CAN GO OUTSIDE, ANDY, BUT HE LIVES IN A WARM WOMB AND WHAT IS THAT?
>> TYPICALLY, WE RUN THE EXPERIMENTS EITHER OUTSIDE OR IN A CLIMATIC CHAMBER WHERE WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO NOT ONLY CONTROL THE TEMPERATURE AND THE HUMIDITY AND WIND SPEED.
>> Ted: WHAT KIND OF TEMPERATURE, WIND SPEED, HUMIDITY AND WHAT IS ANDY EXPOSED TO?
>> IT DEPENDS ON THE RESEARCH QUESTION WE'RE INTERESTED IN AND SO, WE CAN EXPOSE HIM TO HIGH TEMPERATURES AND HIGH SUNLIGHT AND LOW HUMIDITY TO SIMULATE THE ENVIRONMENT WE'RE SIM PUGH PUGH LATING OR SEE HOW THAT AFFECTS EVAPORATION.
>> Ted: WHATEVER PERIOD OF TIME YOU'RE LOOKING AT, RIGHT?
>> ONE OF THE BIG BENEFITS IS THAT WE PUT ANDY IN THESE SITUATIONS FOR UNSAFE TO PUT A HUMAN IN, UNETHICAL AND IF A HUMAN IS EXPERIENCING THESE ENVIRONMENTS FOR DAYS ON END, WE ENVIRONMENTAL WILL USE ANDY TO TEST THAT AND SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING INSIDE THE HUMAN BODY AND THE SEGMENTS OF ANDY.
>> Ted: YOU CAN'T USE A HUMAN BEING ON THIS STUFF AND WORKS AND HOW CLOSE IS ANDY TO A REAL HUMAN BEING?
HOW CLOSE ARE YOU GETTING GETTING?
>> THERMAL MANNEQUINS HAVE BEEN AROUND SINCE 1940 AND STARTED OFF AS A HUMAN SHAPE HEATER AND PROGRESSIVELY, THEY STARTED TO GET MORE AND MORE ADVANCED AND THROUGH A PHYSICAL INSTRUMENT.
ON THE INSIDE, YOU OPEN IT UP AND FOR A HEART OR LIVER, YOU'LL BE DISAPPOINTED AND TUBES AND SO ON.
SO ANDY SERVES AS A SHELL, MEASURES EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING IN OR OUT OF THE BODY AND THEN, THERE'S A TERMAL REGULATION PROGRAM THAT WE USE TO CONTROL HIM AND THE PROGRAM HAS THE HEART, HAS THE DIFFERENT ORGANS AND, BASICALLY, THAT'S WHAT TELLS ME HOW THE CORE TEMPERATURES INCREASES AND TELLS ANDY HOW TO RESPOND TO THAT SIMULATED CORE.
>> Ted: THAT'S FASCINATING AND HOW MUCH RESEARCH HAVE YOU WORKED AND TIME HAS HE SPENT IN THE SUN AND WHAT ARE YOU LEARNING?
>> ANDY SPENDS TIME IN HIS HOME IN THE THERMAL CHAMBER AND IN THIS HEAT, THIS JULY, ANDY HAS BEEN OUTSIDE THREE OUR FOUR TIMES TO GET HIM INTO DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS AND SUN AND SHADE AND DIFFERENT WIND CONDITIONS TO BE ABLE TO MONITOR SOME OF THE CONVECTIVE HEAT LOSS OR RADIOACTIVE HEAT LOADS ON ANDY.
WE ARE ABLE TO MONITOR THE ENVIRONMENT WITH AN ADVANCED NEUROLOGICAL FLEXES THAT THE HUMAN BODY IS EXPERIENCING.
>> Ted: ARE YOU TAKING THIS INFORMATION FROM ANDY AND USING IT OR IS YOUR JOB TO GET THE INFORMATION AND OVER TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO ANALYZE?
>> WE DO THE ANALYSIS, YES, BUT, EVENTUALLY, I THINK, ONCE WE DO THIS ANALYSIS AND GET THESE BIGGER RESEARCH QUESTIONS ANSWERED, WE WANT THAT INFORMATION INTO SOCIETAL APPLICATIONS AND BE ABLE TO GIVE ANSWERS TO SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS THAT HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW IS HEAT AFFECTING THEIR GIVEN POPULATION AND HOW IS IT AFFECTING OLDER PEOPLE THAN YOUNGER PEOPLE AND PEOPLE CLIMATIZED OR NOT AND CERTAIN MEDICATIONS OR NOT.
WE CAN ANSWER A LOT OF THESE QUESTIONS WITH ANDY WITHOUT HAVING TO EXPOSE A HUMAN TO THOSE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.
>> Ted: CAN YOU MAKE ANDY AN OLD GUY?
>> SURE.
WE CAN VARY A LOT OF -- SO IT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE.
AS YOU GET OLDER, YOU START SWEATING LESS.
SO WE CAN PROGRAM INTO THE MANNEQUIN A DECREASE IN THE SWEAT RATE.
NOW WE CAN'T PHYSICALLY CHANGE THE SHAPE OF THE MANNEQUIN TO SIMULATE, LET'S SAY IF SOMEBODY IS SKINNIER OVER AGE.
WE CAN, HOWEVER, SIMULATE COMPUTATION AND WE BENCHMARK A MODEL AND SIMULATE WHAT DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITH BODY SHAPES AND AGES AND CONDITIONS WOULD HAVE.
HE HAS A VERY LARGE COMPUTATIONAL FAMILY.
[ Laughter ] >> Ted: I'LL BET HE DOES.
HE CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS AND DO A LOT OF PEOPLE.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RESEARCH AND I'M SURE THERE'S A LOT MORE TO COME.
THANKS FOR SHARING NUMBERS AND THINGS WITH US.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
THAT'S IT FOR NOW.
I'M TED SIMONS.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

- News and Public Affairs

Top journalists deliver compelling original analysis of the hour's headlines.

- News and Public Affairs

FRONTLINE is investigative journalism that questions, explains and changes our world.












Support for PBS provided by:
Arizona Horizon is a local public television program presented by Arizona PBS