Podcasts
Tips For Coping With Bad-News Burnout
June 4, 2010 2:42 pm | CommentsIs 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.
Solving The Riddle Of Why Matter Exists
May 28, 2010 2:41 pm | CommentsThroughout 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.
Oil Spill Cleanup Technology Stuck In 20th Century
May 28, 2010 2:41 pm | CommentsThirty-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 Flatow and guests discuss why, three decades later, oil cleanup crews still rely on the same technology.
Ahoy: Meet The Navy's Humanoid Robot
May 28, 2010 2:41 pm | CommentsThis 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. Science Friday spoke with Greg Trafton, section head of intelligent systems at the Naval Research Laboratory, about the...
The Struggles of 'Life' Unfold On Screen
May 28, 2010 2:41 pm | CommentsAn 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.
Nesting With A Naturalist
May 28, 2010 2:41 pm | CommentsBernd 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.
Vegetable Gardening On A Budget
May 28, 2010 2:40 pm | CommentsWondering what to do with that old PC case? You could turn it into a planter, and grow strawberries in winter. "Cheap vegetable gardener" Shawn Verrall describes how he gardens in his limited backyard space, in a less-than-ideal climate, without spending a lot of money.
Manmade Genome Controls A Cell
May 26, 2010 6:42 am | CommentsScientists 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.
Is Stem Cell Research Making Progress?
May 26, 2010 6:42 am | CommentsScientists working with mice are reporting success in using stem cells to regrow cells related to hearing loss. Three researchers join host Ira Flatow to discuss the latest adult and embryonic stem cell research news, and explain how the research may be used in humans.
Red-Eyed Treefrogs Rumble In The Jungle
May 26, 2010 6:42 am | CommentsThey 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.
Protecting Your Privacy On Social Networking Sites
May 26, 2010 6:42 am | CommentsNow 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 Flatow and guests discuss the ethical, legal and social issues associated with increasingly public social networking sites.
How The Word 'Scientist' Came To Be
May 26, 2010 6:42 am | CommentsIn 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.
Futures in Biotech 60: Do You Come To This Cave Often?
May 26, 2010 6:42 am | CommentsHost: Marc Pelletier Primate face recognition, new cure for HVC, genetic base change, neanderthals and humans, and more. Guests: Dave Brodbeck, Ph.D., Andre Nantel, Ph.D., Vincent Racaniello, Ph.D., and George Farr, Ph.D. Show notes Comments and suggestions on Futures in Biotech. For a...
Is The Planet Facing A Mass Extinction?
May 14, 2010 2:40 pm | CommentsPlants 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.
This Field Rocks
May 14, 2010 2:40 pm | CommentsTucked 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.
