Science Out Of The Box Reading Creates 'Simulations' In Minds January 31, 2009 • A study provides new insights about what's going on in your head when you crack open a good book. Jeff Zacks, associate professor of psychology at Washington University in St. Louis, talks about the study.
Scientists Watching For Alaska Eruption January 30, 2009 • Alaska's Mount Redoubt could blow its top imminently, scientists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory say. Ash could spew 50,000 feet into the air and could reach Anchorage, 100 miles away. Tom Miller, a scientist emeritus at the observatory, says an eruption could come anytime within a few hours or weeks.
Sports Injuries May Cause Lasting Brain Damage January 30, 2009 • Head injuries and concussions in sports players can lead to severe brain degeneration long after the physical impacts have stopped. In the NFL, seven former players died of various causes before they were 50. Researchers are still trying to figure out how many players might be affected by brain problems and to what degree of severity.
Books Harold Varmus Reflects On A Life In Science January 30, 2009 • Harold Varmus wrote his college thesis on Charles Dickens. He went on to win the Nobel Prize in medicine. Last month he was tapped by President Obama to serve as a science adviser. He describes his unusual career path in his new memoir The Art and Politics of Science.
Space A Distant Planet Has An Extreme Forecast January 30, 2009 • Astronomers have observed a planet orbiting a distant star that experiences temperature swings of hundreds of degrees in a matter of hours. Greg Laughlin, author on the Nature study, says weather models for the planet include glowing skies and 10,000 mile-per-hour winds.
Education Can Scientific Reasoning Be Taught? January 30, 2009 • Scientific reasoning is essential to a successful career in science. But research in the journal Science claims this skill can't be learned through memorization of facts alone. Author Lei Bao explains the findings, and how teachers can apply them in the classroom.
Technology The Road To Building Greener Cars January 30, 2009 • The big automakers are retooling their factories to produce greener cars but many of these vehicles won't hit the road for years. Ira Flatow talks with guests about outside-the-box ideas for improving fuel efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions quickly.
Books 'Stuff Of Life' A Comic Take On Genetics January 30, 2009 • BANG! POW! PHOSPHORYLATION! The Stuff of Life is a new genetic biology primer with a twist — it takes the form of a graphic novel. Author Mark Schultz explains how he turned everything from cytokinesis to parthenogenesis into comics.
Must-See Science: Videos From Science Friday Scientists Dig Deep Sea Dirt Collection January 30, 2009 • In the basement of Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory is the world's largest collection of mud from the seafloor. Marine geologist Peter deMenocal and Rusty Lotti Bond, the collection's curator, show off the collection and explain what it's good for.
Serotonin Boost Turns Locusts Into Social Swarms January 29, 2009 • New research shows that the common brain chemical serotonin triggers gregarious, swarming behavior in locusts. The study, published in Science, says that when the normally solitary insects come together, the sight, smell and touch of other locusts causes a spike in serotonin levels, turning them into social creatures.
Chlamydia Infections Are On The Rise January 29, 2009 • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued its annual report about sexually transmitted diseases in the U.S. The big news is that Chlamydia infections are up. Medical contributor Dr. Sydney Spiesel discusses what the findings mean for peoples' sex lives.
Environment Gore Urges Senate To Avoid Kyoto-Type Failure January 29, 2009 • Nearly 12 years after former Vice President Al Gore returned from Kyoto, Japan, he returned to the U.S. Senate to offer his former colleagues advice about how to approach international climate negotiations this year in Copenhagen.
Economy For Tips On Riding Financial Waves, Ask Fishermen January 28, 2009 • Americans suffering in the anemic economy could take a lesson from fishermen, who have learned how to manage ebbs and flows. They cooperate with their competitors, diversify their businesses and depend on their communities. Above all, they stay optimistic.
Environment How Conclusive Is Climate Change Research? January 28, 2009 • Stanford University biology professor Stephen Schneider worked alongside former Vice President Al Gore to research the significance of global warming. Host Alex Cohen talks with Schneider about the state of climate change research today.
Environment Revisiting The 'Keeling Curve' January 28, 2009 • In the late 1950s, scientist Charles David Keeling began research that would prove to be a key signpost of climate change. In this archived story, hosts Madeleine Brand and Alex Chadwick talked with Keeling's widow and other scientists about the impact of Keeling's work.