NPR: Science Friday Podcast
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Science Friday, as heard on NPR, is a weekly discussion of the latest news in science, technology, health, and the environment hosted by Ira Flatow. Ira interviews scientists, authors, and policymakers, and listeners can call in and ask questions as well. Hear it each week on NPR stations nationwide!
| Title | Podcast Description | Author/Reader | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will Reading The Doc's Notes Improve Your Health? | The Open Notes project connects some 25,000 patients with their doctors' medical notes through secure online portals. Participating doctors Tom Delbanco and Sara Fazio of Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center discuss the program, and why it has some doctors worried. | National Public Radio | 00:23:06 |
| With Well Capped, How Long Will The Oil Linger? | The Gulf of Mexico has a few ways of cleansing oil from its waters: it hosts legions of microbes adapted to dine on natural oil seepages, and its warm water temperatures favor the evaporation of oil. But scientists say it's still too early to know how long it will take to recover. | National Public Radio | 00:23:44 |
| Vertebrate Genomes Hide Ancient Viruses | Reporting in the journal PLOS Pathogens, researchers write opossums have bits of the Ebola virus mixed into their genetic code and human genomes contain snippets of the Borna virus. Study author Anna Skalka says some of the virus genetic code was inserted 40 million years ago. | National Public Radio | 00:17:14 |
| Spinning Some Silken Science | Spiders and silkworms make silk by the yard. Why can't we copy them? Silk is strong, light and flexible and is being examined for use in everything from medical sutures to advanced electronics. Silk researcher David Kaplan explains the challenges in bioengineering silk. | National Public Radio | 00:17:40 |
| How Scientists Can Police Themselves | How do scientists deal with sloppy or shoddy science? A survey found that researchers were often able to deal with minor misconduct informally. Gerald Koocher, one of the scientists behind the survey and co-author of a handbook for dealing with research misconduct, explains. | National Public Radio | 00:12:09 |
| Goodbye, Dr. Schneider | Influential and outspoken climatologist Stephen Schneider died this week of an apparent heart attack. Schneider's friend and colleague Dan Kammen describes Schneider's contributions to climate change research, and recalls the man he knew as "a wonderful, fearless soul." | National Public Radio | 00:06:25 |
| Exploring The Geology Of Gulf Oil | How much oil is under the Gulf of Mexico and how did it get there? Columbia University geophysicist Roger Anderson, an expert in deepwater exploration and drilling, explains how the oil formed millions of years ago, and how companies go about finding and extracting it. | National Public Radio | 00:17:37 |
| Scientists Say A Gel Can Slow HIV Spread | Researchers meeting at the 18th international AIDS conference this week say a new vaginal gel can cut HIV transmission rates in half, if used properly. AIDS experts Anthony Fauci and Kevin Fenton join Ira to discuss news from the conference. | National Public Radio | 00:23:03 |
| Robots That Swim With The Fishes, Intentionally | Based on mathematical models of the movement of fish, Maurizio Porfiri, engineering professor at Polytechnic Institute of NYU, built a robofish. When Porfiri let the robot go for a dip in the lab pool, the real fish started to mill about the robot and even follow it around. | National Public Radio | 00:04:45 |
| Remembering The Race To The South Pole | In 1911, two groups of explorers set out to be first to reach the South Pole. One claimed victory, and the other perished on the return trip. Ross MacPhee of the American Museum of Natural History and polar explorer John Huston discuss these scientific pioneers. | National Public Radio | 00:18:25 |
| Why Do We Like What We Like? | Why do we enjoy things like bitter foods and horror films? And are we the only species that likes art? Paul Bloom, professor of psychology at Yale University and author of "How Pleasure Works," explains our penchant for art and why we find some unpleasant things so enjoyable. | National Public Radio | 00:24:25 |
| Climate Scientists Move Forward After Scandal | Last December, e-mails written by climate scientists raised suspicion of scientific misconduct and conspiracy. International investigations have since exonerated the scientists. Andrew Revkin explains what happened. | National Public Radio | 00:17:28 |
| Harold Varmus Returns To Politics | The Nobel Prize winner and former NIH director has received another presidential appointment: director of the National Cancer Institute. Ira and Varmus discuss the intersection of politics and science, the genetics of cancer and the process by which basic research becomes medicine. | National Public Radio | 00:22:41 |
| Are Protons Even Smaller Than We Thought? | An international team of physicists re-examined the radius of a proton, and found it to be 4 percent smaller than previously thought. Are they mistaken, or is something missing from the long-held theory of quantum electrodynamics? Physicist Brian Odom of Northwestern University discusses. | National Public Radio | 00:07:03 |
| Beach Season For Horseshoe Crabs | Each summer, horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) along the Atlantic shore crawl onto beaches to mate and lay eggs - making now a good time for marine scientists like John Tanacredi to monitor population size. | National Public Radio | 00:05:05 |
| Smart Fibers Could Bring Smarter Clothes | We have smart cars and smart phones, why not smart clothes? They might be coming soon. Materials scientist Yoel Fink describes his work developing fibers that take photos, listen and transmit sound. He says a shirt may one day monitor your health by tracking body sounds. | National Public Radio | 00:12:24 |
| Where Are The 'Hackers' Now? | In his 1984 book, "Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution," Steven Levy profiled some of the personalities whose work brought PCs to the people. Levy discusses his book, recently reissued, and hacker ethics in the Internet age. | National Public Radio | 00:17:24 |
| Who Is Tracking Spilled Oil In The Gulf? | A team of ocean scientists has a plan to track the oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill, but so far they have no funding. Team leader Ira Leifer explains the proposed study. | National Public Radio | 00:12:24 |
| Where The Word 'Genome' Came From | In 1920, a botanist named Hans Winkler merged the Greek words "genesis" and "soma" to describe a body of genes. In this episode, Howard Markel discusses the word "genome" and how it became the most popular way of describing all of our genetic material. | National Public Radio | 00:05:30 |
| Spotting Summer Sickness In The Garden | It's summertime but the living isn't easy for everything. Plants are under attack by blight, wilt, rust and newcomer downy mildew, which kills basil. Plant pathologist Margaret McGrath runs through symptoms of plant sickness and shares tips for preserving pesto prospects. | National Public Radio | 00:11:49 |
| Swimming Pool Chemistry ... Not Pretty | With a heat wave scorching the Northeast, a dip in the pool may sound like just what the doctor ordered. But before diving in, consider the chemistry. Engineer Ernest Blatchley reveals many things you didn't want to know about swimming pools and the chemical reactions occurring in them. | National Public Radio | 00:08:34 |
| The Amygdaloids Mix Neuroscience And Rock N' Roll | A group of New York University neuroscientists leads an unlikely double life - as rockers. The songs on their new album, Theory of My Mind, are based on the members' research. The musicians play selections from the album and talk about the science behind the lyrics. | National Public Radio | 00:21:19 |
| A Chemical Nurtures New Brain Cells In Rodents | Scientists screened nearly 1,000 chemicals and found one that nurtures new neurons in rat and mice brains. University of Texas biochemist Steven McKnight describes the work and explains what has to happen before the chemical can be tried in humans. | National Public Radio | 00:16:37 |
| Presidential Panel Scrutinizes Synthetic Biology | Scientists are cutting and pasting genes to create engineered organisms that may yield new vaccines and biofuels, but what are the ethical implications of toying with DNA? Geneticist George Church discusses synthetic biology, and why scientists need to be careful with the technology. | National Public Radio | 00:17:28 |
| More Evidence Of A Wet Past On Mars | Using data collected by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, researchers say they've found evidence that more of Mars than previously thought was once covered by water. Science News astronomy writer Ron Cowen describes the research and other recent news about Mars and its watery past. | National Public Radio | 00:12:18 |
| Meteors And A Trio Of Planets Highlight Night Sky | For the next few weeks, Venus, Saturn and Mars move closer together in the night sky, culminating in what astronomers call a "trio" in early August. The Hayden Planetarium's Joe Rao describes where to find the planets, and other night sky sights. | National Public Radio | 00:10:36 |
| Exploring The Stinky Science Of Alliums | Onions and garlic have evolved chemical weapons to protect themselves from predation and disease. In his book Garlic and Other Alliums: The Lore and the Science, chemist Eric Block describes that intricate chemistry, and writes of alliums in kitchens, medicine cabinets and opera houses. | National Public Radio | 00:23:47 |
| Extraordinarily Old People Share Similar Genes | Reporting in the journal Science, researchers write of finding certain sets of genes that are more common in centenarians than in the average population. Study author Dr. Thomas Perls, founder and director of the New England Centenarian Study, discusses the results. | National Public Radio | 00:12:24 |
| Solar Scientists Say Sun Behaving Strangely | The sun has cycles - periods of high activity, when it has a lot of sunspots, and low activity, when things on the surface seem calm. NASA astronomer David Hathaway says activity is unusually low right now. A new solar observatory may shine light on the mystery. | National Public Radio | 00:17:35 |
| Recalling The Life Of Benjamin Franklin, Scientist | Benjamin Franklin was a printer, politician, diplomat and journalist. But, despite only two years of schooling, he was also an ingenious scientist. Nobel Prize-winning chemist Dudley Herschbach and Franklin biographer Philip Dray discuss the achievements of America's first great scientist. | National Public Radio | 00:20:41 |
| Helping Those With Hearing Loss | A simple technology called a magnetic hearing loop allows wearers of specially outfitted hearing aids to get a wireless signal transmitted directly to their ear. The technology transforms garbled PA sounds into clear announcements. Hearing-impaired user David Myers explains. | National Public Radio | 00:09:13 |
| The Next 'Geek?' We Asked. You Answered. | In what seems like an unlikely turn of events, "geek" has suddenly gone chic. Last week, Science Friday wondered if there should be a new word for geek, one without a hip connotation, and asked listeners to weigh in. Here're the top terms. | National Public Radio | 00:04:45 |
| Should Joints Be In The Medicine Cabinet? | Fourteen states now allow marijuana smoking for medical purposes, and more states are deciding whether or not to do the same. Ira and guests look at the research on inhaled marijuana as a medication and discuss whether or not doctors should be prescribing it. | National Public Radio | 00:30:35 |
| Medicare Funding Cut Affects Practices And Patients | The House last night passed a measure to prevent a 21-percent cut in Medicare fees paid to doctors, at least for the next 6 months. Dr. Michael Newman, a Washington DC-area physician explains how the yearly threat of cuts affects his practice and patients. | National Public Radio | 00:12:27 |
| Before Liftoff, A Space Telescope Tours Earth | A full-scale model of the James Webb Space Telescope, the planned successor to Hubble, is on the circuit - making appearances at science conferences and festivals. Science Friday caught up with the observatory and spoke to its handlers in New York City's Battery Park. | National Public Radio | 00:04:59 |
| How The Sense Of Touch Influences The Mind | Reporting in Science, researchers describe how the sense of touch influences the mind's judgments and decision-making processes. John Bargh, a professor of psychology and cognitive science at Yale, discusses the findings, including why sitting on a hard wooden chair may turn people into tougher negotiators. | National Public Radio | 00:12:50 |
| Building Living, Breathing Lungs In The Lab | Laura Niklason engineered working lungs in the lab by stripping the cells from rat lungs and repopulating the remaining structure with fresh cells. Don Ingber created a "lung on a chip," which mimics the chemistry and mechanics of a working lung and could be used for drug testing. | National Public Radio | 00:17:48 |
| 'Lucy' Predecessor Turns Back The Clock On Walking | Anthropologist Yohannes Haile-Selassie talks about a recently unearthed Australopithecus afarensis skeleton nicknamed "Kadanuumuu." He says the individual predates "Lucy" by about 400,000 years, and that the bones suggest upright walking originated earlier than previously thought. | National Public Radio | 00:12:29 |
| Science Diction: How 'X-Ray' Got Its 'X' | Dr. Howard Markel, a medical historian at the University of Michigan, discusses how the German physicist William Roentgen stumbled across the phenomenon of X-rays while playing with a cathode tube in his lab, and why Roentgen gave them the name "X-rays." | National Public Radio | 00:03:37 |
| New Film Investigates 'Fracking' For Natural Gas | The natural gas industry says hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," could supply the U.S. with domestic energy for almost 100 years. But environmentalists are worried it may not be safe. Josh Fox, director of the documentary "Gasland," talks about it's potential dangers. | National Public Radio | 00:14:12 |
| Can The Gulf Spill Push Americans To Rethink Oil? | In The Fate of Nature, former Anchorage Daily News reporter Charles Wohlforth writes that cleaning up oil spills is impossible, saying they're merely the cost of doing business. But how much destruction will it take to persuade Americans to embrace energy alternatives? | National Public Radio | 00:17:44 |
| In Afghanistan, High-Tech Tools Replace The Hammer | Geology surveys in Afghanistan don't just rely on the trusty map and hammer. John Brozena of the Naval Research Laboratory discusses how geologists there have mapped mineral deposits from planes carrying various cameras as well as gravity and magnetic sensors. | National Public Radio | 00:12:25 |
| Geek Your Father's Day | This Sunday, forget the BBQ and try constructing a balloon-powered sky-cam or folding some electronic origami. Ken Denmead, author of Geek Dad: Awesomely Geeky Projects and Activities for Dads and Kids to Share, describes projects for science enthusiasts of all ages. | National Public Radio | 00:17:10 |
| The History And Future Of Blimp Technology | Airships were once the giants of the skies. They were soaring before the airplane and were the first strategic bombers in World War I. What happened? Blimp technology has come a long way since the Hindenburg. Ira and guests discuss airships of the past and future. | National Public Radio | 00:17:30 |
| A Man-Made, Plastic Antibody Works In Mice | Researchers say they've created nano-sized antibodies out of chemical components and used them to clear a toxin injected into mice. The antibodies latched on to and "disarmed" the toxin in much the same way natural antibodies do. Chemist Kenneth Shea describes the work. | National Public Radio | 00:12:24 |
| Brains, Like Red Wine, Get Better With Age | In "The Secret Life of the Grown-Up Brain: The Surprising Talents of the Middle-Aged Mind," New York Times health and medical science editor Barbara Strauch writes about ways the brain actually improves with age, and what recent studies say about keeping the brain in top shape. | National Public Radio | 00:23:09 |
| Does Multitasking Lead To A More Productive Brain? | Multitasking is a trademark of modern office work, but is it really more productive? Research suggests the brain is actually more efficient when focusing on one task at a time. Ira and guests discuss the benefits and drawbacks of multitasking. | National Public Radio | 00:23:41 |
| Scientists Forever Blowing Bubbles | James Bird estimates that he watched thousands of bubbles pop while he was getting his doctorate at Harvard University. He and his colleagues discovered that bubbles birth baby bubbles when they burst, with implications ranging from hot tubs to global climate. | National Public Radio | 00:04:48 |
| Research Tries To Lessen Food Allergies' Bite | A recent study in the Journal of the AMA found flaws in how food allergies - abnormal responses to foods triggered by the body's immune system - are diagnosed. New guidelines on dealing with food allergies are scheduled for publication this fall. | National Public Radio | 00:30:34 |
| Distant Chemistry Sparks Thoughts Of Life | Researchers studying the chemical makeup of the atmosphere around Saturn's moon Titan have detected imbalances that, some say, could be signs of life. Jonathan Lunine, a scientist on the Cassini mission to Saturn, says it's too soon to plan a solar-system-wide block party. | National Public Radio | 00:12:24 |
| Tips For Coping With Bad-News Burnout | Is the slick of bad news about the oil spill bringing you down? Psychologist and 'compassion fatigue' expert Charles Figley, of Tulane University's School of Social Work, explains why negative news can be overwhelming and suggests strategies for taking a mental vacation. | National Public Radio | 00:17:33 |
| Oil Spill: Can Science Clean Up This Mess? | After a string of engineering failures, the most consistent mitigation strategy for the oil spill has been dumping hundreds of thousands of gallons of potentially toxic dispersant into the Gulf. Ira and guests discuss whether scientists should be able to provide better solutions. | National Public Radio | 00:30:09 |
| Strikingly Little Is Known About Lightning | For as common as lightning is, scientists have yet to completely understand what causes it. Physicist and lightning researcher Joseph Dwyer is learning more about lightning by causing lightning strikes and recording the X-rays and gamma rays that the lightning produces. | National Public Radio | 00:17:49 |
| Will Breast Cancer Ever Be Preventable? | Two research papers out this week tackle breast cancer prevention. A study in Nature Medicine describes a possible cancer vaccine; the other, in The Lancet, looks at the influence of lifestyle on genes. Immunologist Vincent Tuohy and oncologist Cliff Hudis explain the work. | National Public Radio | 00:17:45 |
| Man Meets Animal In The New Film 'Splice.' | Human-animal hybrids have been a part of mythology for millennia. But what if it were actually possible to create half-human creatures in the lab? Vincenzo Natali, director and screenwriter of the science fiction film Splice, talks about the ethics of splicing human and animal DNA. | National Public Radio | 00:12:25 |
| Vegetable Gardening On A Budget | Wondering what to do with that old PC case? You could turn it into a planter, and grow strawberries in winter. Shawn Verrall describes how he gardens in his limited backyard space, in a less-than-ideal climate, without spending a lot of money. | National Public Radio | 00:17:49 |
| Nesting With A Naturalist | Bernd Heinrich started collecting birds and eggs when he was a child. The Nesting Season is a collection of his observations of nests, eggs and the birds that make them, illustrated with his watercolors and photographs. Heinrich describes his life-long interest in nature. | National Public Radio | 00:17:13 |
| The Struggles of 'Life' Unfold On Screen | An 11-part television documentary series highlights the tactics plants and animals use to survive in nature. Mike Gunton, executive producer for the Life series describes how his team got the shots - from cheetahs taking down an ostrich, to the mating run of humpback whales. | National Public Radio | 00:12:29 |
| Ahoy: Meet The Navy's Humanoid Robot | This year, the Navy brought more than ships and sailors to Fleet Week in New York City. Octavia, the Navy's "MDS" robot (for mobile, dexterous, social), is on display. We spoke with Greg Trafton, section head of intelligent systems at the Naval Research Laboratory, about the challenges of designing a robot that acts like a person. | National Public Radio | 00:04:25 |
| Oil Spill Cleanup Technology Stuck In 20th Century | Thirty-one years ago, the Ixtoc I well blew out in the Gulf of Mexico after its blowout preventer failed. Cleanup crews responded with oil booms, skimmers and detergents. Ira and guests discuss why, three decades later, oil cleanup crews still rely on the same technology. | National Public Radio | 00:36:13 |
| Solving The Riddle Of Why Matter Exists | Throughout the millenia, philosophers, theologians and scientists have pondered the simple question: Why are we here? Science News writer Ron Cowen discusses results from the Fermi Lab's particle collider which may help explain the preponderance of matter, not anti-matter, in the universe. | National Public Radio | 00:07:22 |
| How The Word 'Scientist' Came To Be | In 1834, Cambridge University historian and philosopher of science William Whewell coined the term 'scientist' to replace such terms as 'cultivators of science.' Historian Howard Markel discusses how 'scientist' came to be, and lists some possibilities that didn't make the cut. | National Public Radio | 00:11:20 |
| Protecting Your Privacy On Social Networking Sites | Now that the Library of Congress is archiving tweets and lawyers are using Facebook status updates in cross-examinations, how private are our online musings? Ira and guests discuss the ethical, legal and social issues associated with increasingly public social networking sites. | National Public Radio | 00:35:24 |
| Red-Eyed Treefrogs Rumble In The Jungle | They look cuddly, but red-eyed treefrogs have a secret dark side. When Michael Caldwell, Smithsonian postdoctoral fellow, filmed the frogs under infrared light he saw a curious behavior: they started shaking. Caldwell and colleagues decode the shakes in Current Biology. | National Public Radio | 00:04:41 |
| Is Stem Cell Research Making Progress? | Scientists working with mice are reporting success in using stem cells to regrow cells related to hearing loss. Three researchers join Ira to discuss the latest adult and embryonic stem cell research news, and explain how the research may be used in humans. | National Public Radio | 00:30:45 |
| Manmade Genome Controls A Cell | Scientists are reporting that they have designed and created a genome and then used it to control a cell. Genome pioneer Craig Venter explains how the genome was made and how, one day, it might help scientists engineer bacteria for specific purposes, such as making fuel. | National Public Radio | 00:12:24 |
| Can MRIs Help Solve Crimes? | What if police could scan a suspect's brain to see if he was lying? Some companies claim the technology works, and it should be allowed as evidence at trial. Law professor Hank Greely explains the state of the technology and the ethical questions surrounding its use. | National Public Radio | 00:14:55 |
| Behind the Piles: A Look At Why People Hoard | The new book Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things looks at the nature of hoarders, and the reasons why some people hoard. Co-author and professor of psychology Randy Frost describes his work, and explains why changing a hoarder's behavior is difficult. | National Public Radio | 00:20:11 |
| Doctors Seek Compromise On Female Genital Cutting | In a new policy statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics says a 'ritual nick' to the genitals of newborn females might 'save some girls from undergoing disfiguring and life-threatening procedures in their native countries.' Law Professor Dena Davis explains the policy. | National Public Radio | 00:12:27 |
| This Field Rocks | Tucked in a shallow valley in northeastern Pennsylvania is a mysterious geologic feature: 16 acres of sandstone boulders. Science Friday speaks with Megan Taylor, environmental education specialist at Hickory Run State Park, to hear the geologic history of the boulder field. | National Public Radio | 00:02:33 |
| Is The Planet Facing A Mass Extinction? | Plants and animals must adapt or go extinct as the climate changes. Paul Raeburn and guests talk about new research on populations of frogs and lizards, and discuss ways that conservation strategies may have to change as habitats shift towards the poles or creep up mountain slopes. | National Public Radio | 00:45:03 |
| Fixing Oil Rig Blowout No Easy Task | Crews are lowering a 100-ton box over a portion of the gushing Deepwater Horizon oil platform in an attempt to capture some of the oil and funnel it to the surface. It's unclear whether the attempt will work, and engineers are examining other options. | National Public Radio | 00:35:14 |
| Bracing For Disaster In The Gulf Ecosystem | Oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico has begun to make landfall in Louisiana's Chandeleur Islands. Nancy Rabalais, director of the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, says the spill's effects on the larger Gulf ecosystem could last for years. | National Public Radio | 00:12:28 |
| Finding Light In The Sea's Dark Depths | Edith Widder, of the Ocean Research and Conservation Association, has been exploring the deep sea for 30 years. When Widder descended for the first time, she says she wasn't prepared for the light show she encountered and has been building tools to document bioluminescence ever since. | National Public Radio | 00:04:20 |
| Looking Ahead To A Busy Hurricane Season | Many forecasts for the 2010 hurricane season predict more named storms and major hurricanes than an average year. Phil Klotzbach, lead forecaster on the Hurricane Forecast Team at Colorado State University, discusses the climate factors that may stir up more Atlantic hurricanes this year. | National Public Radio | 00:06:39 |
| Neanderthal Genome Offers Clues On Early Humans | Researchers present a draft of the Neanderthal genome in the journal Science this week. Ira Flatow talks with researchers about the results of the genetic analyses, including a new finding that some modern humans have Neanderhtal DNA in their genomes. | National Public Radio | 00:24:08 |
| Study Suggests Hand Washing Cleanses The Mind | Reporting in the journal Science, researchers write that hand washing seems to lower the amount of second-guessing and rationalization that occur after making a decision. Study author Spike W.S. Lee discusses the paper, and why the simple act of washing one's hands could ease the mind. | National Public Radio | 00:12:01 |
| Meeting The Nation's Bioenergy Goals | A federal renewable fuel standard calls for mixing 36 billion gallons of biofuels into transportation fuel by 2022. But the U.S. produces only one-third of that amount today. Ira and guests talk about meeting that goal with products like cellulosic ethanol or oil squeezed from algae. | National Public Radio | 00:47:21 |
| Finding The Notes Among Us | The honk of a horn and the rumble of a truck sound like noise to most people. But to Lucy Fitz Gibbon, and others with absolute pitch, there are notes embedded in the noise. Exactly why some people have this mysterious ability to recognize pitch isn't well understood. | National Public Radio | 00:05:53 |
| Why Laughter May Be Medicinal | A new study of 14 people finds that the body's response to laughter is similar in some ways to its response to repetitive exercise. For example, watching humorous videos lowered blood pressures, the researchers report. Preventive care expert Lee Berk explains the findings. | National Public Radio | 00:07:15 |
| Offshore Wind Farm Gets Government Go-Ahead | After years of delay, the Interior Department has given Cape Wind Associates the go-ahead to develop a 130-turbine wind farm off the coast of Massachusetts. Ira and guests discuss the project and what it might mean for wind farm development in other parts of the country. | National Public Radio | 00:22:29 |
| Driving Cars Toward Complexity | Safety features such as stability control are adding to the complexity of car electronics and the software that controls them. Engineer Ingold Krueger explains how electronics have changed car operation and maintenance, and how, in rare instances, some systems fail. | National Public Radio | 00:11:56 |
| 'Anthill' Profiles Struggles Of Ants | - and Humans. Biologist and Pulitzer Prize winner E.O. Wilson discusses his first novel. Anthill is a portrait of conflict in the ant and human worlds of southern Alabama, from the rise and fall of battling ant colonies to a nature-loving boy's conviction to save the wilderness they inhabit. | National Public Radio | 00:34:56 |
| Nuclear Waste Dilemma | Nevada's Yucca Mountain is no longer an option for long-term storage of nuclear waste. But construction of a similar project is under way in Finland. In his film Into Eternity, director Michael Madsen questions the feasibility of safely storing waste for hundreds of thousands of years. | National Public Radio | 00:12:24 |
| Record High Pollen Levels? | Sniffling and sneezing your way through spring? Record high pollen levels in some places may be to blame. But why do plants produce more pollen in some years? Aerobiologist Estelle Levetin explains the biology of pollen production and the reasons for the yearly variation. | National Public Radio | 00:12:33 |
| The Hubble Turns 20 | The Hubble telescope has an impressive resume for a 20-year-old. It has helped scientists zero in on the age of the universe, and figure out that the universe is expanding. Ira Flatow and guests look back at the telescope's contributions to science and pop culture. | National Public Radio | 00:28:46 |
| Gathering The Past In 'Obselidia' | In this film by writer and director Diane Bell, a movie projectionist and a librarian documenting the obsolete grapple with themes of love and extinction in the shadow of climate change. Bell previews her film, which won the Alfred P. Sloan award at this year's Sundance. | National Public Radio | 00:06:39 |
| Finding Ways To Mark Earth Day's 40th | Author and environmentalist Bill McKibben talks about small steps people can take to reduce carbon emissions, Climatologist Kevin Trenberth discusses research suggesting that the Earth's atmosphere is trapping more heat than before, and the mystery of where excess heat is being stored. | National Public Radio | 00:23:46 |
| What's In The Stars For NASA? | Addressing the Kennedy Space Center Thursday, President Obama laid out his plan for the space program. He expects NASA to put astronauts in Mars orbit by the mid-2030s, but is counting on private companies to run trips closer to home. Ira and guests discuss NASA's future. | National Public Radio | 00:24:02 |
| Bacterial Infections Defy Treatment | A new government report finds little progress in lowering rates of infections associated with health care institutions. And many of those infections are becoming increasingly difficult to treat. Ira and guests discuss the problem of drug-resistant bacteria, including MRSA. | National Public Radio | 00:48:06 |
| Pulling Power From The Plains | The Department of Energy wants 20 percent of America's power to come from wind by the year 2030. What role will the Plains states play? Ira Flatow and guests look at wind power development in Oklahoma and the region, and the plans for transmitting that power to the coasts. | National Public Radio | 00:47:55 |
| TV Weathercasters Skeptical Of Climate Science | A survey of nearly 600 broadcast meteorologists revealed that just over half believe global warming is real; even fewer believe humans are behind it. Ira Flatow and guests discuss how TV weathercasters present issues in science, and why they may doubt scientific consensus. | National Public Radio | 00:24:27 |
| Scientists Chase Tornadoes to Solve Mysteries | Scientists still don't understand why some supercell thunderstorms form twisters and others don't. Ira Flatow and guests discuss the new VORTEX2 project, in which scientists hope to solve twister mysteries by using mobile weather stations to chase tornadoes around the plains. | National Public Radio | 00:23:16 |
| Western States Brace For Grasshopper Invasion | A federal survey suggests some states may face a grasshopper infestation this year. Slade Franklin, weed and pest coordinator for the Wyoming Department of Agriculture, says numbers could get as high as 50 hoppers per square yard. Franklin describes how his state is preparing. | National Public Radio | 00:08:16 |
| Compiling Bug Tales In 'Insectopedia' | Author Hugh Raffles, professor of anthropology at The New School in New York, traveled the globe meeting insects and the people who love them. From deep-fried grasshoppers to cricket fights, Raffles recounts some of the stories from his new book | National Public Radio | 00:09:34 |
| What's The Buzz On Beekeeping This Year? | A new study found honeybee hives laced with pesticides. Is this a clue to Colony Collapse Disorder? Entomologist Jeff Pettis, of the USDA Bee Research Lab, and beekeeper Richard Blohm, of High Meadow Honey Farm in Long Island, discuss the latest bee news from lab and field. | National Public Radio | 00:30:09 |
| Large Hadron Collider Smashes A Record | The world's largest particle smasher is running again. After being closed down for repairs, the CERN supercollider (which sits on the French-Swiss border) sent particle beams smashing into each other again this week, setting a new world record for high energy collisions. | National Public Radio | 00:12:57 |
| Science And Crime Mix In 'The Poisoner's Handbook' | In her book The Poisoner's Handbook, writer Deborah Blum catalogs the myriad poisons that took the lives of Jazz Age New Yorkers. Part history, part chemistry, part crime novel, the book also chronicles the evolution of forensic medicine in the early 20th century. | National Public Radio | 00:22:36 |
| Court Rules Against Myriad Gene Patents | A federal judge in New York has ruled that seven patents related to breast cancer gene mutations licensed by Myriad Genetics are invalid. Genome policy expert Robert Cook-Deegan explains what the ruling might mean for patients, genetic testing and biotech research. | National Public Radio | 00:12:06 |
| Caterpillar Of Land And Stream | Reporting in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, entomologist Daniel Rubinoff describes 12 new species of caterpillar. These Hawaiian moth larvae are the first insects shown to be able to live for weeks underwater or bone-dry conditions. | National Public Radio | 00:12:47 |
| States Battle Over Solutions To Invading Fish | The U.S. Supreme Court has denied Michigan's request for an injunction to close two locks leading to Lake Michigan to block carp from entering the Great Lakes. Environmental lawyer Nicholas Schroeck explains why Illinois, Chicago and local shipping interests were against the closure. | National Public Radio | 00:12:40 |
| Fossil Finger Points To New Human Relatives | Genetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA from a single prehistoric finger bone found in a Siberian cave may signal a new branch of the human family tree, separate from Neanderthals and modern humans. Ian Tattersall discusses the find. | National Public Radio | 00:10:08 |
| Trade In Endangered Species | Negotiators met this week at the CITES talks in Doha, Qatar to debate rules for trade in endangered species. Kaiser's Spotted Newt got international protection, but red coral and bluefin tuna did not. Crawford Allan of the trade-monitoring group TRAFFIC gives a scorecard. | National Public Radio | 00:12:25 |
| Scientific Disciplines Mix At Chem Meeting | At the American Chemical Society meeting in San Francisco this week, scientists presented work on everything from the greenhouse gas emissions of livestock to the effect of human skin oils on office air quality. Ira and guests discuss these stories and other news from the meeting. | National Public Radio | 00:47:48 |
| Keeping The Russian Revolution Alive | When Vladimir Lenin - leader of the Russian Revolution - died, Stalin hired two scientists to preserve his body. A new play called Lenin's Embalmers explores the story. Stuart Firestein and Vern Thiessen explain how the play brings together science, politics and, humor. | National Public Radio | 00:17:49 |
| Taking 3-D To TV | Movie theaters are full of 3-D flicks, but now the technology is moving to television. Ira Flatow and guests discuss the frontier of this technology, and what it might look like when it hits the market. | National Public Radio | 00:29:57 |
| Scientists Study Dancing Babies | In perhaps the cutest study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, psychologist Marcel Zentner and Tuomas Eerola found that babies will spontaneously groove to music. While not great dancers, they smile more when they do hit the beat. | National Public Radio | 00:05:45 |
| Fingertips Leave A Bacterial Fingerprint | Researchers studying the microbes that inhabit human skin say the bacteria left behind when an object is touched can be used to identify who did the touching. Microbe researcher Rob Knight explains how this could one day be used to solve crimes. | National Public Radio | 00:12:04 |
| Tired Of Commuting By Car? Try An Electric Bike | Tens of millions of Chinese commuters ride electric bicycles to work. But will car-centric Americans give them a whirl? Edward Benjamin, chairman of the Light Electric Vehicle Association, and Bert Cebular, founder of NYCeWheels, discuss the bikes. | National Public Radio | 00:21:43 |
| High School Scientist Develops Spacecraft Software | New Mexico high school student Erika DeBenedictis took first place in this year's Intel Science Talent Search. She discusses how she won by designing a software system to guide spacecraft along the most fuel-efficient route to Venus. | National Public Radio | 00:08:14 |
| Living Spaces That Stress Less | From switching to energy-efficient light bulbs and appliances, to collecting rainwater and installing photovoltaic panels, how are experts making buildings that use less energy and generate less waste? | National Public Radio | 00:17:47 |
| The Secret Life Of Caves | Pigmentless grotto salamanders, blind Ozark cavefish and parasitic horsehair worms are a few of the animals living in Missouri's 6,000-plus caves. We look at the biology, geology and history of underground attractions in the "Cave State." | National Public Radio | 00:30:14 |
| Can Biotech Crops Feed The Developing World? | Biotech has promised innovations like drought-resistant corn and vitamin-packed cassava to the developing world. But how has it delivered on those dreams? | National Public Radio | 00:47:57 |
| Yucca Mountain As Metaphor | When writer John D'Agata moved his mother to the suburbs of Las Vegas, he began looking at the history of the government's plan to store nuclear waste deep in Nevada's Yucca Mountain. | National Public Radio | 00:07:27 |
| Can Technology Solve Nuclear's Problems? | President Obama has pledged support for nuclear power, but problems including how to dispose of the waste persist. Ira Flatow and guests look at the latest nuclear technology, from microreactors to waste storage, and compare the cost of nuclear to other energy sources. | National Public Radio | 00:28:06 |
| Changing Behaviors To Save Energy | Energy Star labels and miles-per-gallon vehicle ratings aren't enticing enough consumers toward energy-saving options, according to economist Hunt Allcott. He explains how new research in behavioral economics might help lead consumers to better choices. | National Public Radio | 00:12:30 |
| Rock Out With A Homemade Electric Guitar | Forget the air guitar solos, go electric for under $10. Sound artist Ranjit Bhatnagar, a member of NYC Resistor, specializes in building cheap, D.I.Y. instruments. He explains how to make an electric guitar from a plank of wood, some wire, a magnet and a guitar string. | National Public Radio | 00:04:52 |
| Fossil Pushes Back The Age Of Dinosaurs | A fossil in Tanzania suggests dinosaurs appeared 10 million years earlier than previously thought, according to a Nature study. Christian Sidor, of the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture at the University of Washington, discusses the origin of dinosaurs. | National Public Radio | 00:12:56 |
| Harnessing Thoughts To Control A Computer | Researchers decoded electrical brain signals without implanting electrodes, according to a new study. Instead, Jose L. Contreras-Vidal and colleagues monitored brain activity with EEG sensors on the scalp, using them to reconstruct hand movement and drive a robot. | National Public Radio | 00:17:12 |
| Tracking The Geologic Impacts Of Earthquakes | The earthquake that shook Chile was powerful enough to push up the Andes a few feet, shift Earth's axis and even speed up Earth's spin. Ross Stein, a geophysicist at the U.S.G.S., explains the fallout of the quake and the physics that triggered it. | National Public Radio | 00:12:03 |
| The Early Picture Of Darwin Evolves | Charles Darwin is often depicted as an old, bearded genius, but what was he like as a young man? The movie "Creation" explores young Darwin's inner turmoil. Director Jon Amiel and Darwin's descendant Randal Keynes hold forth. | National Public Radio | 00:22:16 |
| The Small Parts That Drive The Universe | How do you take pictures of objects that are too small to photograph? George Whitesides and Felice Frankel, co-authors of the image-heavy book "No Small Matter: Science on the Nanoscale", discuss nanoscience and the process of photographing particles smaller than photons. | National Public Radio | 00:25:42 |
| Can Underwater Parks Protect Coral? | With global threats like ocean warming and acidification, it's a tough time to be a coral. Marine ecologists John Bruno and Elizabeth Selig discuss if local management through Marine Protected Areas had any positive effect. | National Public Radio | 00:04:18 |
| Study Suggests Sperm Whales Herd Prey | Data from GPS and depth sensing instruments suggest sperm whales may herd squid to make capturing their prey easier. "Science News's" Sid Perkins reports on this and other findings presented at the American Geophysical Union's Ocean Sciences Meeting in Portland. | National Public Radio | 00:06:47 |
| Life Imitates Math | In his new book, "The Calculus of Friendship", math professor and writer Steven Strogatz looks back on his 30-year correspondence with his high school math teacher. Can calculus, differential equations and chaos theory help explain the complex nature of human relationships? | National Public Radio | 00:24:28 |
| Grizzlies Move Into Polar Bear Turf On Hudson Bay | Reporting in "The Canadian Field-Naturalist", researchers write of grizzly bears in Canada's Wapusk National Park, on the shores of the Hudson Bay - land previously inhabited only by polar bears. Author Robert Rockwell discusses potential competition. | National Public Radio | 00:12:29 |
| Scientists Study Dolphins As Model Of Human Health | Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson of the National Marine Mammal Foundation discusses why dolphins may have evolved a diabetes "on/off switch," and Dr. Hendrik Nollens of the University of Florida talks about what scientists can learn by studying papillomavirus infections in dolphins. | National Public Radio | 00:30:55 |
| Toxin Triggers Epilepsy In Sea Lions And Humans | Just one exposure to the algal toxin domoic acid can trigger epilepsy in sea lions and humans. NOAA scientist John Ramsdell discusses the one known human case of epilepsy from domoic acid poisoning, and what scientists can learn from similar cases of epilepsy in sea lions. | National Public Radio | 00:12:25 |
| Communicating Science In A Post-Newspaper Era | As newspapers and cable news cut science coverage, where can the science-curious get reliable science and technology news? Ira Flatow and guests discuss how the Internet - including blogs and social media - is filling the coverage gap. Plus, spicing up screenplays with science. | National Public Radio | 00:47:48 |
| Jane Goodall Works To Help Humans, Too | She won fame as a primatologist studying wild chimpanzees on the shores of Tanzania's Lake Tanganyika. Fifty years later, Jane Goodall is fighting climate change and helping women in developing countries pursue environmental projects. | National Public Radio | 00:25:13 |
| The 'Immortal' Story Of One Woman's Cells | In The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, author Rebecca Skloot tells the story of Henrietta Lacks' 'immortal cells' - cells taken from a tumor on her cervix and kept alive to multiply in laboratories around the world - and how Lacks' children discovered their connection to the cells. | National Public Radio | 00:22:38 |
| Studying Leaves With Physics And Fluorescent Dye | Leaves have an intricate web of veins that transport nutrients and water and provide structural support. But what determines the pattern of venation? Physicists Marcelo Magnasco and Eleni Katifori investigated this question using sophisticated algorithms and a little glow-in-the-dark dye. | National Public Radio | 00:04:59 |
| Jumbo Squid Invade California Coastal Waters | Humboldt squid have been spotted in increasing numbers off the coast of California. The adaptable animals can reach seven feet long and weigh up to 100 pounds. Marine biologist William Gilly and other researchers are trying to understand the reasons for the population shift. | National Public Radio | 00:12:50 |
| Government Plans 'National Climate Service' | A century after the Weather Bureau began to offer regular forecasts, the government is proposing the creation of a similar service focused on climate change and its effects. NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco discusses the proposed 'National Climate Service.' | National Public Radio | 00:17:48 |
| Listening To Love Songs of African Clawed Frogs | For many, romantic music is a key part of a Valentine's Day celebration. Biologist Darcy Kelley studies the communications of South African clawed frogs, including their underwater love songs. What can their music reveal about communication elsewhere in the animal kingdom? | National Public Radio | 00:12:28 |
| Experts Say 'Gene Doping' To Be Next Sports Scandal | Cheating athletes used to rely on steroids to pump up performance. Then they discovered erythropoietin and human growth hormone. What's next? Gene doping, or genetic manipulation, according to Doctor Theodore Friedmann, chair of the World Anti-Doping Agency's Gene Doping Expert Group. | National Public Radio | 00:17:50 |
| Is Depression Overdiagnosed In America? | Roughly 27 million Americans took prescription antidepressants in 2005, making them the most commonly prescribed class of medications in America. Ira Flatow and guests discuss depression, from how it's diagnosed and treated to how antidepressants stack up against psychotherapy and placebos. | National Public Radio | 00j:30:17 |
| Fossilized Feathers Hint At Dinosaur Color | Dinosaurs are often portrayed as a drab green or grey, but some may have been much brighter. Reporting in Science, Jakob Vinther and colleagues analyzed the fossilized feathers of 150-million-year-old dinosaur Anchiornis huxleyi and found its plumage was surprisingly flashy. | National Public Radio | 00:04:53 |
| President Obama's Science Spending | The president's proposed budget was unveiled this week. How did science make out? This hour Ira Flatow and guests look at the budgets of the major U.S. scientific institutions. How are research, alternative energy development and space travel affected? And will Congress sign on? | National Public Radio | 00:43:13 |
| Sean Carroll On The Mysteries Of Time | It's easy to find a dictionary definition of "time." But ask a group of theoretical physicists and the answer isn't as clear. Sean Carroll of CalTech discusses the mysteries of time in his book, "From Eternity to Here: The Quest for the Ultimate Theory of Time." | National Public Radio | 00:24:48 |
| Could An Asteroid Slam Earth Without Warning? | The $4 million the United States spends each year to detect near-Earth comets and asteroids is not nearly enough to detect all potentially threatening objects, according to a new report. Faith Vilas and Michael A'Hearn, two authors on the report, discuss options for keeping Earth safe. | National Public Radio | 00:22:41 |
| Mystery Of The Bdelloid Dry Spell Solved | Bdelloid rotifers haven't had sex for 30 million years and that's puzzling. Most asexual animals are doomed to extinction. Reporting in the journal Science, Paul Sherman and Chris Wilson explain the extraordinary adaptations that allow these rotifers to persist in celibacy. | National Public Radio | 00:17:48 |
| Stargazing At The Opera | The Hayden Planetarium in New York takes opera to the moon with a new production of "Il Mondo Della Luna." Diane Paulus and Philip Bussmann talk about merging cosmos footage with music, how science can enhance the arts and the future of technology and theater. | National Public Radio | 00:17:45 |
| NASA Prepares Spirit For Winter On Mars | NASA rover Spirit is stuck in the Martian dust. But don't give up yet, says Steven Squyres, principal investigator of the Mars Exploration Rover Mission. Squyres discusses tactics for freeing Spirit and what projects are on the horizon for the rover if it survives the Martian winter. | National Public Radio | 00:11:51 |
| Machines Slowly Master Face Recognition | Facial recognition technology is already used at border crossings, the DMV and photo-management software. But how do machines stack up against humans? Ira Flatow and guests discuss what facial recognition technology can and can't do, and talk about privacy issues concerning its use. | National Public Radio | 00:35:42 |
| Scientists Grow Neurons From Stem Cells | Reporting in The Journal of Neuroscience, researchers write of creating working neurons from embryonic stem cells. When transplanted into an infant mouse brain, the cells hooked into the correct brain areas, as normal neurons would. Study author James Weimann discusses the findings. | National Public Radio | 00:12:01 |
| What's In That Fish Stick? Give It A DNA Test | Brenda Tan and Matt Cost, high school seniors from Trinity School in New York City, used a technique called DNA barcoding to find out what species were present in over 200 animal products. Their results suggest buyers should beware! | National Public Radio | 00:05:50 |
| FDA Cautions Against Chemical In Plastics | Last week, the FDA warned against exposure to a chemical called BPA, found in hard plastics. But how dangerous is the chemical? Gardiner Harris, of The New York Times, discusses the FDA's statement, and what it indicates about the future of the organization. | National Public Radio | 00:12:01 |
| 'Denying' Science Could Be Dangerous | Genetically modified food, vaccines and synthetic biology are all hot-button issues. But they shouldn't be, according to guest Michael Specter, author of the new book Denialism. He argues that the scariest threat is not science itself, but the reluctance to discuss it. | National Public Radio | 00:17:00 |
| The Technology Behind Texting For Aid | People have texted millions of dollars in donations to victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Is this the new model for philanthropy? Timothy Ogden, editor in chief of Philanthropy Action, explains the technology and the future of charity work in the information age. | National Public Radio | 00:11:37 |
| Is There A Biological Basis For Race? | The 2010 census form has a box to check for race, but what do the categories mean? Some scientists say there's no biological basis for dividing people into races. Others say race can be an important marker for disease. Ira Flatow and guests look at the science of race. | National Public Radio | 00:35:21 |
| Deal Suggests Bright Solar Future In China | The Chinese government has pledged that 15 percent of its energy will come from renewable sources by 2020. To that end, China announced a contract with California's eSolar to build one of the biggest solar plants in history. Bill Gross, CEO of eSolar, discusses the project. | National Public Radio | 00:12:02 |
| Watching TV Could Shorten Your Life | Daily TV viewing is statistically associated with an increase in the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and other medical causes, according to a new study in Circulation. Study author David Dunstan explains the findings. | National Public Radio | 00:12:08 |
| The Laser Turns 50: A Birthday Bash | In 1960, a physicist shined a flash bulb into a ruby crystal tube and the first laser was born. Ira Flatow and guests discuss the history of the laser, the intrigue surrounding its invention and why you can't pick up the phone or get in a car without having a laser to thank. | National Public Radio | 00:23:31 |
| The Doomsday Clock Takes A Step Back | The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has reset its famous "Doomsday Clock," a symbolic marker of how close the world is to annihilation by humans. Physicist Lawrence Krauss explains why the scientists feel a bit more optimistic about the world's chances for survival. | National Public Radio | 00:11:34 |
| Eric Kandel Reminisces About Memory | Neuroscientist and Nobel Prize winner Eric Kandel has been studying the molecular basis of memory for more than 50 years. His life and career are the subject of a new documentary, "In Search of Memory." Kandel discusses the state of memory research and shares his own memories. | National Public Radio | 00:35:36 |
| Dispute Over 'Fracking' For Natural Gas | Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, uses water and an array of chemicals to push apart underground rock formations, releasing natural gas for collection. Environmental groups want more regulation of the chemicals used in fracking; industry groups say more rules aren't necessary. | National Public Radio | 00:12:18 |
| Stashing Carbon Dioxide In Rocks | Basalt formations off the East Coast of the U.S. could suck up a billion tons of carbon dioxide, according to a new study. Paleontologist Paul Olsen, of Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, explains how to get the CO2 into the rocks, and why scientists believe it won't leak out. | National Public Radio | 00:17:50 |
| Obesity Trumps Smoking As American Health Burden | Reporting in the "American Journal of Preventive Medicine," researchers write that the American obesity epidemic is eating away at gains in health and life expectancy achieved by anti-smoking campaigns. | National Public Radio | 00:22:02 |
| Distant Galaxies, Exoplanets Star At Space Meeting | Astronauts outfitted the Hubble Space Telescope with a powerful new camera last year. Now it has spotted the most distant galaxies known to science. "Science News" writer Ron Cowen chats about this and other news presented at the American Astronomical Society meeting this week. | National Public Radio | 00:08:07 |
| Calling All Puzzle Gurus: 65 Math Mysteries | Father-daughter team Eric and Natalie Yoder share brainteasers from their new book, "One Minute Mysteries: 65 Short Mysteries You Solve With Math." Get your slide rule ready and see if you can solve their stumpers. | National Public Radio | 00:17:48 |
| Deciphering The Psychology of Pricing | What mental tricks do retailers employ to push products? William Poundstone, author of "Priceless: The Myth of Fair Market Value (and How To Take Advantage of It)," talks about the science of pricing and shares tips for savvy shopping. | National Public Radio | 00:23:55 |
| One Too Many? Coffee Isn't The Cure | Reporting in the journal "Behavioral Neuroscience," researchers found that caffeine was no help in countering the effects of alcohol on learning and decision making, at least in mice. Thomas Gould, psychologist at Temple University, explains the findings. | National Public Radio | 00:06:26 |
| Forget Sledding, Try A Snowflake Safari | Winter weather means more than skiing and snowmen. Bullet rosettes, stellar plates and capped columns are just a few of the crystal varieties commonly found in snowstorms. Science Friday asked Kenneth Libbrecht, physicist at Caltech and snowflake expert, for guidance on snowflake hunting. | National Public Radio | 00:05:06 |
| Breaking Into The 'Department Of Mad Scientists' | What happens when scientific research borders on science fiction? Michael Belfiore, author of the new book "The Department of Mad Scientists," talks about the bizarre projects happening behind the scenes at DARPA - the secretive research arm of the Department of Defense. | National Public Radio | 00:16:22 |
| Citizen Scientists Count Birds For Christmas | For over a century, volunteers have been looking for larks and spotting sparrows in the annual Christmas Bird Count. Ornithologists David Bonter and Glenn Olson talk about this year's most exciting finds, and expert birder Bill Schmoker reviews the best gear for bird nerds. | National Public Radio | 00:26:41 |
| The Truth About Holiday Hazards | Are mistletoe and poinsettia something to be worried about this time of year? Poison expert Edward Krenzelok explains how to avoid accidental poisonings this season, and how to keep the holidays toxin-free. | National Public Radio | 00:05:29 |
| For Happiness, Spend Money On Experiences | A few duds under the tree? Return them for cash and go to dinner. Psychologists say people report feeling happier when they spend their money on experiences rather than objects. Study author Ryan Howell, from San Francisco State University, explains the results and speculates on whether the findings extend to gift-giving. | National Public Radio | 00:06:20 |
| Profiling Frank Oppenheimer | Author K.C. Cole writes about physicist and Exploratorium-founder Frank Oppenheimer in "Something Incredibly Wonderful Happens." Cole, a friend of Oppenheimer's, digs into FBI files and personal memories to describe the complex man also called the "Uncle of the Atomic Bomb." | National Public Radio | 00:22:09 |
| Taking On Santa Skeptics With Science | Attention unbelievers: A new book uses science to explain just how Santa is able to deliver so many presents in one night, how he knows whether you've been naughty or nice and how he stays trim eating so many cookies. Author Gregory Mone discusses his book "The Truth About Santa." | National Public Radio | 00:11:58 |
| Looking Back At The Year In Science | Ira Flatow and a panel of science writers and editors discuss the top science stories of 2009, from the discovery of water on the moon to the unveiling of human ancestor Ardipithecus ramidus to public health controversies like the new mammography guidelines and the swine flu vaccine. | National Public Radio | 00:44:35 |
| Working Weekends At A Psych ER | Dr. Julie Holland ran the weekend shift at Bellevue's psychiatric emergency room for nine years. In her new memoir Weekends at Bellevue, Holland describes the patients she encountered - from the manic to the criminally insane - and the reasons she eventually left the job. | National Public Radio | 00:39:59 |
| 'Genetic Fossils' Change Extinction Picture | Woolly mammoths and ancient horses may have been roaming the North American steppes longer than scientists thought. Evolutionary biologist Eske Willerslev describes how his team used DNA samples taken from permafrost cores to recalculate when the animals may have disappeared. | National Public Radio | 00:07:25 |
| Eggnog: Spike And Let It Sit, For Safety | A perennial holiday dilemma: Will alcohol kill bacteria like salmonella in homemade eggnog? Microbiologists Vince Fischetti and Raymond Schuch, from The Rockefeller University, ran an experiment in the lab to see whether salmonella can survive in a vat of spiked eggnog. | National Public Radio | 00:05:03 |
| Report Adds Up Americans' Daily Appetite For Data | In the consumer report "How Much Information?" University of California technology management professor Roger Bohn writes that average Americans consume about 34 gigabytes of data daily across all media, including television, radio, computer games, music and the Internet. | National Public Radio | 00:12:47 |
| Data Mining Spurs Innovation, Threatens Privacy | By analyzing cell phone movements and online search queries, scientists can monitor traffic in real time and track disease outbreaks more efficiently, but at what cost to privacy? Computer scientists Tom Mitchell and Deborah Estrin discuss the pros and cons of crowd sourcing personal data. | National Public Radio | 00:22:21 |
| Deep Ocean Volcano Hot Topic At Geophysics Meeting | At the fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union this week, high-definition footage of a deep ocean volcano spewing lava into the water wowed attendees. Science News reporter Sid Perkins reports on that and other meeting news, including earthquake tracking on Twitter. | National Public Radio | 00:07:52 |
| Erasing Fears By Thinking About Them | Fearful memories can be updated — and the fear erased — without drugs, a new study in the journal Nature suggests. Study author Elizabeth Phelps, a psychologist at New York University, explains the findings and the implications for treating anxiety disorders. | National Public Radio | 00:12:38 |
| What To Get That Special Geek | Droid or iPhone? Zune or Touch? Netbook or MacBook? With holiday shopping in full swing, Ira Flatow talks with gadget guru Mark McClusky, senior editor for products at Wired magazine, about the top technologies of 2009, and the biggest flops. What gizmos are on your wish list? | National Public Radio | 00:21:57 |
| U.S. Government Sponsors High-Stakes Balloon Hunt | The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) released 10 red weather balloons across the country and offered $40,000 to the first group to locate them all. Riley Crane, of MIT, explains how his team bagged the prize by locating the balloons in fewer than nine hours. | National Public Radio | 00:12:29 |
| Can Coffee Lower The Risk of Prostate Cancer? | New research suggests coffee is more than a pick-me-up; it may help protect against prostate cancer. Researcher Kathryn Wilson describes the results of a preliminary study showing that men who drank more coffee lowered their risk of developing an aggressive type of prostate cancer. | National Public Radio | 00:11:33 |
| Breast Cancer Gene Patents Challenged | A landmark lawsuit is challenging the patents Myriad Genetics holds on the so-called breast cancer genes — patents that make Myriad the sole provider of a crucial genetic test. Do patents on genes spur research and innovation, or harm patients? Two experts share their views. | National Public Radio | 00:29:45 |
| Gauging The Climate In Copenhagen | Scientists, policymakers, activists and skeptics from around the world have gathered in Denmark's capital to figure out how to deal with the threat of climate change. Elliot Diringer of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change describes the negotiations and the sticking points. | National Public Radio | 00:06:49 |
| Can Science Make Psychotherapy More Effective? | More rigorous scientific training in clinical psychology graduate programs would turn out more competent clinicians, researchers write in Psychological Science in the Public Interest. But not all psychologists agree. | National Public Radio | 00:35:24 |
| Bird Feeders Speed Up Evolution, May Split Species | Reporting in Current Biology, researchers write of a warbler that has quickly evolved an unorthodox migration path to England to take advantage of backyard bird feeders. Study author Martin Schaefer explains how the clever migrants could become a distinct warbler species. | National Public Radio | 00:12:24 |
| Paralyzing Worms With Light | Feed nematode worms a particular light-sensitive chemical and after the meal, the worms become paralyzed when exposed to UV light. Remarkably, the effects can be reversed under visible light, Neil Branda and colleagues report in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. | National Public Radio | 00:03:21 |
| Cataloging Earth's Carbon Content | A new project dubbed the "Deep Carbon Observatory" aims to describe the carbon under the Earth's surface. Principal investigator Robert Hazen talks about the project and its relevance to energy supplies, the environment and our understanding of how life on Earth originated. | National Public Radio | 00:18:52 |
| NASA Works To Free 'Spirit' | The Mars exploration rover dubbed "Spirit" has been stuck in sand since April. NASA's project manager for the rovers, John Callas, describes attempts to free Spirit, and explains how the rover might continue to collect data from its present location if those attempts fail. | National Public Radio | 00:13:22 |
| Particle Smasher Is Fired Up (Again) | After being down for more than a year for repairs, the Large Hadron Collider at CERN is running again. Physicist Drew Baden explains what went wrong with the Collider, how it was fixed, and what scientists are hoping to find by smashing beams of particles into each other. | National Public Radio | 00:12:24 |
| They Might Be Giants Sings About Science | In Here Comes Science, the band They Might Be Giants tackles the scientific process, plasma physics, the role of blood in the body and the importance of DNA, all in song. Band members John Linnell and John Flansburgh discuss the album and play some science tunes. Originally broadcast Sept. 25, 2009. | National Public Radio | 00:26:36 |
| Cheese: Chemistry Rolled Into Every Wheel | Can science explain what makes Stilton stinky and goat cheese gooey? Liz Thorpe, vice president of Murray's Cheese in New York and author of the book The Cheese Chronicles, talks about the science and business of making cheese in America. Originally broadcast Aug. 14, 2009. | National Public Radio | 00:21:23 |
| Ig Nobel Prizes Salute Silly Science | The winners of this year's Ig Nobel Prizes include the inventor of underwear that doubles as an emergency gas mask, researchers who created diamonds from tequila, and more. The Igs honor research that "first, makes you laugh, then, makes you think," according to Marc Abrahams, the master of ceremonies and the editor of Annals of Improbable Research. | National Public Radio | 00:47:12 |
| Real-Life Physics Problems Star On TV | The stars of The Big Bang Theory are two fictional Caltech physicists, but the physics problems they study are real. Bill Prady, the program's co-creator and executive producer, talks about including real-world science in the script, from dark matter to magnetic monopoles. | National Public Radio | 00:06:24 |
| Book Recounts Challenges Of Eradicating Smallpox | In Smallpox: The Death of a Disease, Dr. D.A. Henderson recounts the history of the deadly virus, from the development of the first vaccine in the late 18th century to his involvement in the successful global eradication campaign in the 1960s and 70s. | National Public Radio | 00:15:37 |
| Debating Benefits, Risks Of Routine Mammograms | New guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend women start getting routine mammograms at age 50, not 40. Ira Flatow and guests take a closer look at the guidelines and what they mean for women's health. | National Public Radio | 00:26:05 |
| Talking Turkey About Holiday Stress | The holiday season is here and for many that can mean a surge in stress. But what is stress exactly? Science Friday hit the streets of New York City to gauge stress levels and consulted with experts on the effects of stress and strategies for how to cope. | National Public Radio | 00:05:21 |
| Personalizing Solar Power | Researchers are hoping to improve solar energy installations by coupling a solar panel to an efficient hydrolysis unit that splits water into oxygen and hydrogen. Daniel Nocera of MIT says the approach could lead to personal solar power units that could get many houses off the grid. | National Public Radio | 00:12:29 |
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