Sanden Totten Science Reporter
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Sanden Totten is KPCC's Science Reporter. Prior to that, Sanden was a producer for KPCC's Take Two program. He’s been on staff since the launch of the Madeleine Brand Show in 2010.
As a Science Reporter, Sanden covers everything from advances in medical technology to dinosaur fossils and space exploration. Before joining Southern California Public Radio, Sanden worked at Minnesota Public Radio, where he was co-creator of In "The Loop," a program that made the audience part of the show. He was also part of the team behind the Public Insight Network, a crowd-sourcing project designed to bring unique perspectives to news.
Sanden is the winner of several honors, including the Radio and TV News Association’s Golden Mike for “best writing” and the National Entertainment Journalism's award for “best radio news story.” He was a 2011 Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT. With a BA in Psychology and English from Oberlin College in Ohio.
Sanden also attended school in Japan and Sweden, and speaks both languages.He is a fan of fast music, comics and movies about time travel.
Stories by Sanden Totten
New prostate cancer test uses urine instead of blood
A new prostate cancer test under development at UC Irvine involves urinating on a stick. The stick picks up a protein strongly associated with prostate cancer.
What's the difference between .08 and .05 blood alcohol levels?
The NTSB recommends that states lower the threshold for drunk driving from .08 percent to .05 percent. How much of a difference does that reduction make?
Brain transplant: UCLA's LONI neuro imaging lab moves to USC
UCLA's Laboratory of Neuro Imaging will be relocating to USC this fall. The move comes as USC is looking to become the world's leading research institution.
Discovery Science Center expanding into San Fernando Valley
The Discovery Science Center will be moving into the former home of the Children's Museum of Los Angeles at the Hansen Dam Recreation Area.
Springs Fire: Cal Fire has spent $170M of $220M emergency firefighting fund
California is expecting a very active fire season. Battling those blazes will take a lot of people, a lot of equipment and ultimately a lot of money.
Body image obsession may be related to brain wiring
A study from UCLA suggests that extreme body image obsession may be related to faulty brain wiring. The discovery could help inform new kinds of treatment.
Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo passes first rocket test
The space tourism company says the vehicle hit Mach 1.2 and reached 56,000 feet in its first rocket-powered test over the Mojave Desert.
Fire in Palos Verdes part of an unusually early and dangerous fire season
A fire Thursday in Palos Verdes is the latest in what's already an active fire season. Seasonal firefighters are starting work early to prepare for the summer.
Firefighters expect a hot, dry and difficult season
The fire in Monrovia this weekend burned hot and fast. Officials say that blaze and other factors point to a difficult and dangerous fire season this year.
Oscars 2013: Honoring the scientific and technical geniuses who make movie magic
The Oscars are a few weeks away, but the show’s geekier cousin, the Scientific and Technical Awards, happens tomorrow. KPCC’s Sanden Totten reports.
UCLA vocal coach helps nervous pop stars nail the National Anthem
Beyonce stirred up a bit of controversy by lip-syncing the National Anthem at Obama's inauguration. The Star-Spangled Banner is notoriously hard to perform, and many pop singers have tried and botched it. Those who want to get it right turn to UCLA vocal coach, Michael Dean.
VIDEO: Movie trailer business has become survival of the fittest
The emphasis on unique sound design is one of the stylistic changes in the movie trailer industry, but the way we watch trailers is changing.
Need dubstep for a movie trailer? There's a company for that
A growing number of companies specializes in making music just for movie previews. One of the most popular artists to imitate? Skrillex.
Inside one of LA's biggest movie-trailer houses
A lot goes into making those three-minute previews you see in theaters before the feature presentation.
How movie trailers evolved from afterthought to art form
Movie trailers weren't always the adrenaline-inducing barrage of images we know today. They used to be more of an afterthought than an art form.
