Podcasts
Science Diction: The Origin Of 'Physician'
January 28, 2011 10:41 am | CommentsIn the 13th century, Anglo-Normans appropriated the French physique, or remedy, to coin the English physic, or medicine, which is still in dictionaries today. Science historian Howard Markel discusses how physic became physician, and the parallel evolution of the word physics.
An Earlier Departure Out Of Africa?
January 28, 2011 10:41 am | CommentsA cache of stone tools found in the United Arab Emirates suggests that modern humans may have left Africa earlier — and via a different route — than previously thought. Anthropologist Will Harcourt-Smith describes the finding and how it may change thinking on human origins.
Assessing The Health Of The Gulf, Post-Spill
January 21, 2011 8:42 am | CommentsThe Macondo spill was just the latest insult to a Gulf Coast already suffering from decades of oil and gas development, river diversions and Hurricane Katrina. Ira Flatow and guests discuss long-term restoration plans for Gulf wetlands and wildlife, and the oil's impact on human health.
Young Filmmakers Make Litter Scary
January 21, 2011 8:42 am | CommentsIn the style of a 1950s horror film, Esteban Valencia, Eduardo Hernandez and Randi Levey, students from Miami Beach Senior High, created a cautionary tale about trashing the beach. The video, Garbage Monsters, got top honors in the Oceans 2030: Youth Outlook Multimedia Contest.
Changing Climate Means Changing Oceans
January 21, 2011 8:42 am | CommentsScientists who study the oceans say the effects of climate change are already being seen in the world's oceans. From acidification and warming temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice loss, Ira Flatow and guests look at how the oceans are changing with changes in climate.
Futures in Biotech 74: Cancer and Aging: Rival Demons with Dr. Judith Campisi
January 15, 2011 10:40 am | CommentsHosts: Marc Pelletier and Simon Melov Seeking to better understand how cellular senescence contributes to the pathophysiology of aging. Guest: Dr. Judith Campisi, Ph.D., professor at the Buck Institute. We invite you to read, add to, and amend our show notes. Comments and suggestions on...
Visual Biography Explores Love And Radium
January 14, 2011 8:46 am | CommentsThe story of Marie and Pierre Curie is one of love, scientific partnership, and one of the most important discoveries of the 20th century. Artist and author Lauren Redniss discusses her new book, Radioactive, an illustrated biography of the pair and a look at their complicated legacy.
Following A Wandering North Pole
January 14, 2011 8:45 am | CommentsThe location of the magnetic North Pole is moving towards Siberia at about 40 miles per year -- and every few hundred thousand years, the north and south poles switch positions entirely. Geophysicist Ronald Merrill explains what's known about the inner workings of the Earth's magnetic field.
Adding Smarts To The Electrical Grid
January 14, 2011 8:45 am | CommentsThe nation's electrical distribution system has been getting less reliable over time, according to an article by electrical engineering professor Massoud Amin. How dependable is our electrical infrastructure, and will plans for a more intelligent 'smart grid' improve its reliability?
New Fossil From The Dawn Of Dinosaurs
January 14, 2011 8:45 am | CommentsReporting in the journal Science, Paul Sereno, Ricardo Martinez and colleagues describe Eodromaeus murphi. This dinosaur was four feet long, fifteen pounds and lived 230 million years ago, just a few million years after dinosaurs first evolved.
What Does '4G' Really Mean, Anyway?
January 14, 2011 8:45 am | CommentsMobile phone companies are rolling out faster wireless data networks with names like LTE, WiMax and HSPA+, marketing them all under the name '4G.' But are they really much faster than 3G? Engadget senior mobile editor Chris Ziegler talks about how the new networks measure up.
Tracking Carbon Through Your Gut And Beyond
January 14, 2011 8:45 am | CommentsIn a recent survey, many college students said body fat is "burned off." Few knew that gym-goers actually break down fat molecules into carbon dioxide and water, extracting energy in the process. Ira Flatow and guests discuss the basics of energy, matter and the carbon cycle.
How Many Social Network Identities Is Too Many?
January 14, 2011 8:44 am | CommentsThere are social networks for every application, from location-based services like FourSquare to photo-sharing networks like Instagram. Liz Gannes, senior editor at AllThingsDigital, explains how internet users are splintering their online identities to exploit the strengths of different platforms.
Not In Every Living Room, A Homemade 3-D Printer
January 8, 2011 12:36 pm | CommentsJim Smith, a 23-year-old in Wappingers Falls, N.Y., is taking citizen science to another level. He designed and built his own 3-D printer, which sits in the corner of his living room. Science Friday visited with Smith, got a tour of the machine and did some printing.
Doing Real-World Science, But Skipping The Ph.D.
January 7, 2011 8:39 am | CommentsAs big science projects generate more and more data, researchers are recruiting citizen scientists to help sift through the information overload. And in the case of new astronomical discoveries, amateur collaborators are even scoring authorship credits on peer-reviewed papers.
