Leading science journalists provide a daily minute of commentary on some of the most interesting developments in the world of science. For a full-length, weekly podcast you can subscribe to Science Talk: The Podcast of Scientific American. To view all of our archived podcasts please go to www.sciam.com/podcast http://www.sciam.com/podcast/ http://www.sciam.com/podcast/images/sciam_podcast_d.jpg http://www.sciam.com/podcast/ 144 144 © 2008 Scientific American, Inc. http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss en-us Sun, 11 May 2008 12:05:03 -0500 Wed, 08 Feb 2006 10:30:00 -0500 A daily quick take on science. Leading science journalists provide a daily minute of commentary on some of the most interesting developments in the world of science. For a full-length, weekly podcast you can subscribe to Science Talk: The Podcast of Scientific American. For a complete listing of the 60-Second Science podcast, please go to www.sciam.com/podcast. Science, technology, minute, 60-second, 60-seconds, Scientific American Scientific American mharbolt@sciam.com Micheal Harbolt no Training Scientists to Run for Office http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=CA3A76DF-FB11-0BF3-A86033A268B03153&ref=p_rss CA3A76DF-FB11-0BF3-A86033A268B03153 Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Training Scientists to Run for Office A daylong workshop in Washington, D.C., on May 10 will focus on teaching scientists and engineers how to get elected to political office. Steve Mirsky reports. For more information, go to www.Elections.SEforA.org 00:01:16 Politics, science and society Scientific American no Cloth-Eating Fungus Could Make Fuel http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=C8ED057F-D32E-34B5-4DF78025550EB35B&ref=p_rss C8ED057F-D32E-34B5-4DF78025550EB35B Thu, 8 May 2008 10:30:08 -0500 Cloth-Eating Fungus Could Make Fuel A fungus that plagued GI's during World War II by eating shirts and tent cloth might be put to use to create biofuels from cellulose. Cynthia Graber reports. 00:01:14 Fungus, biofuels Scientific American no Were Dinos on Their Way Out Before the Meteor? http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=BF6E33D9-DDC0-ED5F-F472D68B2087C9D3&ref=p_rss BF6E33D9-DDC0-ED5F-F472D68B2087C9D3 Wed, 7 May 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Were Dinos on Their Way Out Before the Meteor? Fossil data presented at an evolution conference at The Rockefeller University indicate that pterodactyls got steadily larger, possibly because smaller ones couldn't compete with birds. Which could mean that the dinos were in trouble even before the meteor hit. Steve Mirsky reports. 00:01:16 Dinosaur, extinction Scientific American no Cell Number Is Future Fat Fight Front http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=BADB32C5-D574-9DD7-6C38269C788EF6C8&ref=p_rss BADB32C5-D574-9DD7-6C38269C788EF6C8 Tue, 6 May 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Cell Number Is Future Fat Fight Front Your fat cell number stays constant, but the individual fat cells die and are replaced. Stopping that process could be a new front in the fat fight. Karen Hopkin reports. 00:01:16 Fat, adipose Scientific American no Protein Shape Data Confirms Life's Genealogy http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=B9688CBE-F56F-17E3-ED2D1C7925FAB6BA&ref=p_rss B9688CBE-F56F-17E3-ED2D1C7925FAB6BA Mon, 5 May 2008 10:15:08 -0500 Protein Shape Data Confirms Life's Genealogy Comparing the DNA sequences of similarly shaped proteins in various organisms produces a geneaology of all life on earth that matches those created from completely different data sets. Steve Mirsky reports. 00:01:16 Protein folding, tree of life Scientific American no Fishing Lines That Repel Sharks http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=A9F7EB36-EF96-74AB-0C6009E5ADE48609&ref=p_rss A9F7EB36-EF96-74AB-0C6009E5ADE48609 Fri, 2 May 2008 10:20:08 -0500 Fishing Lines That Repel Sharks Adding a particular metal to fishing lines could create an electrical field in seawater that would keep sharks from stealing bait and winding up entangled themselves. Cynthia Graber reports. 00:01:14 Sharks, palladium Scientific American no Nutcracker Man Preferred Soft Fruits http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=A18FC07D-0608-CD1D-489A45D4AEFF7BA2&ref=p_rss A18FC07D-0608-CD1D-489A45D4AEFF7BA2 Thu, 1 May 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Nutcracker Man Preferred Soft Fruits Analysis of the fossil teeth of an early human ancestor finds that even though they could have handled harder fare, they preferred soft fruits. Karen Hopkin reports. 00:01:16 Teeth, fossil Scientific American no World's Oldest Oil Paintings http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=9BD46D19-CCAC-CB0B-8779626313B2A724&ref=p_rss 9BD46D19-CCAC-CB0B-8779626313B2A724 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:08 -0500 World's Oldest Oil Paintings High-tech analytic methods show that cave paintings of Buddhas in Afghanistan are the world's oldest known that include oils. Cynthia Graber reports. 00:01:14 Analytical chemistry, art history Scientific American no Keeping Time Tied to Intelligence http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=96A8630A-E047-D8CB-E1BCADC6BBCA131E&ref=p_rss 96A8630A-E047-D8CB-E1BCADC6BBCA131E Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Keeping Time Tied to Intelligence Men who could keep a steady beat did better on standardized intelligence tests than their rhythmless counterparts. Karen Hopkin reports. 00:01:16 Neuroscience, rhythm Scientific American no A Fair Share's Brain Reward http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=8763BDB9-0425-668D-37D48BFF2A2F10B0&ref=p_rss 8763BDB9-0425-668D-37D48BFF2A2F10B0 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:08 -0500 A Fair Share's Brain Reward Getting a decent deal activates the same reward centers of the brain as when people do drugs or win big. Christopher Intagliata reports. 00:01:16 Neuroscience, game theory Scientific American no Word Problems Fail Math Students http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=86148EF0-91C8-2DCA-768F20CDA543F8E7&ref=p_rss 86148EF0-91C8-2DCA-768F20CDA543F8E7 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:00:08 -0500 Word Problems Fail Math Students The old "two trains traveling at 60 miles per hour in opposite directions" style of math word problems is less effective at training students than is dealing with abstract concepts, such as finding the value of x. Adam Hinterthuer reports. 00:01:14 Mathematics, education Scientific American no Diet May Influence Sex of Baby http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=80C1C2F5-0436-F9C5-E75C8FF34D921AC0&ref=p_rss 80C1C2F5-0436-F9C5-E75C8FF34D921AC0 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:00:08 -0500 Diet May Influence Sex of Baby Women who consumed more calories while pregnant had more males than women on lower-calorie diets. Cynthia Graber reports. 00:01:14 Nutrition, development Scientific American no Floral Scent's Polluted Descent http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=7BA4D2D3-D029-6B05-AFEA7D18EBFC33C3&ref=p_rss 7BA4D2D3-D029-6B05-AFEA7D18EBFC33C3 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:20:08 -0500 Floral Scent's Polluted Descent Chemical compounds in pollution interfere with the scent molecules produced by flowers, making it harder for pollinating insects to find their way. Karen Hopkin reports. 00:01:17 Botany, pollution Scientific American no Lasers Let Lightning Loose http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=72E375F7-9725-F7D0-3A5DB18F4D64E91A&ref=p_rss 72E375F7-9725-F7D0-3A5DB18F4D64E91A Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Lasers Let Lightning Loose Researchers have used powerful lasers to induce lightning in thunderclouds. Cynthia Graber reports. 00:01:15 Laser, lightning Scientific American no Mercury Rising--Up the Food Web http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=717C8018-E7A1-25E5-75F9FC7BF75C4E34&ref=p_rss 717C8018-E7A1-25E5-75F9FC7BF75C4E34 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:00:08 -0500 Mercury Rising--Up the Food Web Elevated mercury levels in fish aren't alone. Higher levels in birds and insects point to a contamination across the food web. Adam Hinterthuer reports. 00:01:13 Mercury, pollution Scientific American no Never You Mine: Ben Stein's Selective Quoting of Darwin http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=61D30BEB-A65E-7583-BB264FABBD4CD879&ref=p_rss 61D30BEB-A65E-7583-BB264FABBD4CD879 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:15:08 -0500 Never You Mine: Ben Stein's Selective Quoting of Darwin One of the many egregious moments in the new Ben Stein anti-evolution film "Expelled" is the truncation of a quote from Charles Darwin so that it makes him appear to give philosophical ammunition to the Nazis. Steve Mirsky reports. 00:03:45 Darwin, propaganda Scientific American no Vicious Circle of Belly Fat http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=58EA73DB-EDA9-701A-C47A1E0933D4D76D&ref=p_rss 58EA73DB-EDA9-701A-C47A1E0933D4D76D Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Vicious Circle of Belly Fat Abdominal fat cells produce a hormone that can make you hungrier, leading to more belly fat and so on. Steve Mirsky reports. 00:01:16 Neuropeptide Y, NPY, fat Scientific American no Komodo Dragons' Skillful Skulls http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=57A67227-95ED-7B15-C3880050A6F02814&ref=p_rss 57A67227-95ED-7B15-C3880050A6F02814 Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:40:08 -0500 Komodo Dragons' Skillful Skulls Komodo Dragons' powerful neck muscles generate huge forces when attacking prey. Their lightweight skulls can handle the forces thanks to a strong, "space-frame" structure. Steve Mirsky reports. 00:01:17 Komodo dragon, space-frame Scientific American no Listening In On Hurricanes http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=51C9EA08-E3CD-BC3E-6E97EBF7670B95E0&ref=p_rss 51C9EA08-E3CD-BC3E-6E97EBF7670B95E0 Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:00:08 -0500 Listening In On Hurricanes equivalent data, by recording the hurricane-driven churning of the ocean. Cynthia Graber reports. 00:01:14 Hurricane, hydrophone Scientific American no Oral Contraceptives As Part of IVF http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=4D46BA2C-FF34-11D1-DFB58DEDC4E21F1F&ref=p_rss 4D46BA2C-FF34-11D1-DFB58DEDC4E21F1F Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:20:08 -0500 Oral Contraceptives As Part of IVF Using oral contraceptives before attempting IVF can allow women and their physicians to better know the timing of ovulation. Cynthia Graber reports. 00:01:14 IVF, oral contraceptives Scientific American no A Presidential Science Debate http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=3E266FAE-D9C3-DAB6-A69CA7D4A2FEE2B0&ref=p_rss 3E266FAE-D9C3-DAB6-A69CA7D4A2FEE2B0 Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:30:08 -0500 A Presidential Science Debate Science Debate 2008 is the name of an effort to get the Presidential candidates to commit to discussing science issues before the election. Adam Hinterthuer reports. 00:01:14 Politics, science policy Scientific American no Why Did Matter Beat Out Antimatter? http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=38B1D5C1-F63A-99F9-B3FD3D136D4B4BA2&ref=p_rss 38B1D5C1-F63A-99F9-B3FD3D136D4B4BA2 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:00:08 -0500 Why Did Matter Beat Out Antimatter? The odd behavior of a subatomic particle provides a clue as to why matter beat out antimatter in the early universe. Steve Mirsky and JR Minkel report. 00:01:26 Matter, antimatter, particle physics Scientific American no Computer Takes Clarinet Lessons http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=2FCAB106-F5F3-7BA7-8A98E776F47F88D7&ref=p_rss 2FCAB106-F5F3-7BA7-8A98E776F47F88D7 Wed, 9 Apr 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Computer Takes Clarinet Lessons Detailed analysis of how a clarinetist plays the instrument is a first step toward incredibly natural sounding synthesizer music. Christopher Intagliata reports. 00:01:22 Acoustics, computer music Scientific American no Ancient Mariners Sailed Between Mexico and South America http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=2AB9DADC-EF95-2483-46A5C1D78227344A&ref=p_rss 2AB9DADC-EF95-2483-46A5C1D78227344A Tue, 8 Apr 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Ancient Mariners Sailed Between Mexico and South America MIT students recreated rafts that took people and goods between the west coasts of Mexico and South America. Cynthia Graber reports. 00:01:14 Precolumbian civilization, shipworms Scientific American no Alligator For What Ails Ya? http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=1B950FD3-07DB-F7EE-E2BB12632084680D&ref=p_rss 1B950FD3-07DB-F7EE-E2BB12632084680D Mon, 7 Apr 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Alligator For What Ails Ya? Studies on alligator blood show that the big reptiles have incredibly robust immune systems, which researchers hope to exploit to create new antibiotics. Karen Hopkin reports. 00:01:16 Antibiotics, alligators Scientific American no Some Bacteria Dine On Antibiotics http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=166B51F8-DE9C-DCF8-9132AF8A95CA0642&ref=p_rss 166B51F8-DE9C-DCF8-9132AF8A95CA0642 Fri, 4 Apr 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Some Bacteria Dine On Antibiotics Some bacteria are more than resistant to various antibiotics--they can actually survive eating nothing BUT antibiotics. Karen Hopkin reports. 00:01:16 Antibiotics, resistance Scientific American no Beetle Points Way To Better Spray http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=14B29E60-974B-1718-3B3079783FEBA66E&ref=p_rss 14B29E60-974B-1718-3B3079783FEBA66E Thu, 3 Apr 2008 10:45:08 -0500 Beetle Points Way To Better Spray The bombardier beetle fires a toxic stew at predators. Now researchers hope to copy that firing mechanism for better high-performance sprays. Cynthia Graber reports. 00:01:14 Bombardier beetle, spray Scientific American no The Mythical Daily Water Requirement http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=0BD1CF72-E411-2EE5-A4CDEE3447E81C93&ref=p_rss 0BD1CF72-E411-2EE5-A4CDEE3447E81C93 Wed, 2 Apr 2008 00:00:08 -0500 The Mythical Daily Water Requirement There's no evidence that humans actually need the oft-cited "eight-glasses-per-day" of water. Karen Hopkin reports. 00:01:16 Water, daily dose Scientific American no Hepatitis May Be Ally Against HIV http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=0AA228DD-C2EA-9346-DB6580A3C7EA9BDC&ref=p_rss 0AA228DD-C2EA-9346-DB6580A3C7EA9BDC Tue, 1 Apr 2008 11:45:08 -0500 Hepatitis May Be Ally Against HIV A part of one of the proteins of the Hepatitis C virus shows anti-HIV activity in cell cultures. Cynthia Graber reports. 00:01:14 HIV, Hepatitis C Scientific American no Why You can't Unwrap a DVD http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=054D58C0-D708-FBAD-B4610704A61E0D43&ref=p_rss 054D58C0-D708-FBAD-B4610704A61E0D43 Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:00:08 -0500 Why You can't Unwrap a DVD Physicists have explained the so-called Wallpaper Problem, which governs the frustrating tearing of wallpaper, tape rolls and DVD packaging. Steve Mirsky reports. 00:01:17 Adhesion, materials Scientific American no Solar Energy Via Balloons http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=F2D473A3-AEBE-C31F-E672CBB36BAF7E89&ref=p_rss F2D473A3-AEBE-C31F-E672CBB36BAF7E89 Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Solar Energy Via Balloons An array of collecting balloons could be a new way to capture solar energy without using vast tracts of land. Cynthia Graber reports. 00:01:13 Solar energy, balloon Scientific American no Sensing Sweets Without Taste http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=F096240E-F6C4-4FF7-0965DA4ADAEBD247&ref=p_rss F096240E-F6C4-4FF7-0965DA4ADAEBD247 Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:20:08 -0500 Sensing Sweets Without Taste Mice that cannot taste sugar can still tell when sugar is in what they ingest. Cynthia Graber reports. 00:01:14 Perception, physiology Scientific American no Researchers Heart Yak Cheese http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=EBA2FD29-94CA-C39B-F6A15B17756F0557&ref=p_rss EBA2FD29-94CA-C39B-F6A15B17756F0557 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:15:08 -0500 Researchers Heart Yak Cheese Cheese made from the milk of yaks, shaggy beasts from Tibet and Nepal, has some heart-healthy qualities. Steve Mirsky explains, with reporting from Harvey Black. 00:01:18 Nutrition, cheese Scientific American no Home Visits Improve AIDS Outcomes http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=E2D15155-A4C7-8C9C-900B51D010223BE2&ref=p_rss E2D15155-A4C7-8C9C-900B51D010223BE2 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Home Visits Improve AIDS Outcomes In rural areas of developing countries, home visits can vastly lower AIDS and all-cause mortality rates. Cynthia Graber reports. 00:01:14 AIDS, HIV Scientific American no Money Can Buy Happiness http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=D35CE872-DDF8-C4D8-FD7967170523903D&ref=p_rss D35CE872-DDF8-C4D8-FD7967170523903D Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Money Can Buy Happiness One surefire way for money to provide happiness appears to be to spend it on other people. Karen Hopkin reports. 00:01:16 Economics, happiness Scientific American no Hermaphrodites Avoid Self-Fertilization http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=CE100F1B-DCF9-F337-EF665F8999DDB67C&ref=p_rss CE100F1B-DCF9-F337-EF665F8999DDB67C Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Hermaphrodites Avoid Self-Fertilization Molecules on the sperm and eggs of hermaphroditic organisms ensures that they mate with others. Karen Hopkin reports. 00:01:16 Hermaphrodite, reproduction Scientific American no One-Eyed Depth Perception http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=C8F2C76E-BD26-930D-98653F8A716AF422&ref=p_rss C8F2C76E-BD26-930D-98653F8A716AF422 Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:00:08 -0500 One-Eyed Depth Perception Eye movements combined with the motion of objects in the field of vision enable some depth perception even with only a single eye. Cynthia Graber reports. 00:01:14 Depth perception, vision Scientific American no Sly Male Ants Carry Queen Genes http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=C42D7B4D-AC45-2C60-4EC58D7FE78D93EF&ref=p_rss C42D7B4D-AC45-2C60-4EC58D7FE78D93EF Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Sly Male Ants Carry Queen Genes A few male ants in a colony have genes that allow them to sire the next queen. But they keep their royal genetics under wraps. Cynthia Graber reports. 00:01:13 Ants, reproductive genetics Scientific American no Smoking Can't Buy Happiness http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=BE9F542D-98CE-85FF-F4D20366E9FD6E80&ref=p_rss BE9F542D-98CE-85FF-F4D20366E9FD6E80 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Smoking Can't Buy Happiness Smokers tend to be less happy than nonsmokers, and the effect is heighened the lower their economic status. Karen Hopkin reports. 00:01:16 Smoking, happiness Scientific American no Next Up For NASA http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=BD204EF1-00E5-649B-9BF680C201ACEDC2&ref=p_rss BD204EF1-00E5-649B-9BF680C201ACEDC2 Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Next Up For NASA At a conference last week, NASA administrator Michael Griffin outlined the space agency's next phase of planetary and lunar science research. Steve Mirsky reports. 00:01:16 NASA, planetary science Scientific American no Gators Move Lungs To Maneuver http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=ADDBA6B4-A039-3EF4-7998322D0018CF02&ref=p_rss ADDBA6B4-A039-3EF4-7998322D0018CF02 Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Gators Move Lungs To Maneuver Alligators can slice silently through the water by shifting the location of their air-filled lungs. Karen Hopkin reports. 00:01:17 Alligators, physiology Scientific American no Distant Sand May Be Planet's Birth http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=A899D34A-0A5F-538E-3D5B28BFE159585D&ref=p_rss A899D34A-0A5F-538E-3D5B28BFE159585D Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Distant Sand May Be Planet's Birth Sandy particles seen circling around a young binary star system 2,400 light years from us could be an early stage in the formation of a new earth-like planet. Steve Mirsky reports. 00:01:16 Planet formation, dust discs Scientific American no Counterproductive Cameras At Traffic Lights http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=A3509A37-CE58-9DCD-DA102EB07CF47DD0&ref=p_rss A3509A37-CE58-9DCD-DA102EB07CF47DD0 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Counterproductive Cameras At Traffic Lights Researchers in Florida contend that cameras for catching drivers who run red lights actually increase accidents and injuries. Steve Mirsky reports. 00:01:16 Civil engineering, traffic, public health Scientific American no Bad Smells and Why They're Good http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=9E293DAF-FD14-3448-959819D43D57010E&ref=p_rss 9E293DAF-FD14-3448-959819D43D57010E Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Bad Smells and Why They're Good Researchers have found new details about how we perceive bad odors, and it's a good thing we do. Karen Hopkin reports. 00:01:16 Odors, senses, trigeminal nerve Scientific American no A Star Is Flung http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=86343815-F761-6CA6-57C065C12355032F&ref=p_rss 86343815-F761-6CA6-57C065C12355032F Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:00:08 -0500 A Star Is Flung The star called HE 0437-5439 looks like it was tossed out of the Large Magellenic Cloud by a hypothesized black hole. Steve Mirsky explains, with reporting by Harvey Black. 00:01:16 HE 0437-5439, Large Magellenic Cloud Scientific American no Pythons Warm to the U.S. http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=86102326-0B1F-A3D4-74B2BBD61E9ECD2C&ref=p_rss 86102326-0B1F-A3D4-74B2BBD61E9ECD2C Fri, 7 Mar 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Pythons Warm to the U.S. Discarded pet Burmese pythons are breeding in the Everglades--and climate change could make a third of the US potential python habitat. Steve Mirsky reports. 00:01:16 Burmese pythons, climate change Scientific American no Electric Gold http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=84C395C3-C1BE-28EA-95684A1B57F5C336&ref=p_rss 84C395C3-C1BE-28EA-95684A1B57F5C336 Thu, 6 Mar 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Electric Gold At the nanoscale, gold wire can act as either a conductor or insulator, making it a candidate as a sensor. Steve Mirsky explains, with reporting by Harvey Black. 00:01:16 Gold, nanotech Scientific American no This Is Your Brain On Arts http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=7F935FF0-F32D-934E-3839395703713706&ref=p_rss 7F935FF0-F32D-934E-3839395703713706 Wed, 5 Mar 2008 00:00:08 -0500 This Is Your Brain On Arts A three-year, multi-institutional study finds that early training in performing arts is really good for the brain. Steve Mirsky reports. For more info, go to www.dana.org 00:01:16 Arts, cognitive development Scientific American no Pavement Changes Weeds Seeds http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=76CF34D1-02C0-0940-18B02DD62AED1519&ref=p_rss 76CF34D1-02C0-0940-18B02DD62AED1519 Tue, 4 Mar 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Pavement Changes Weeds Seeds The urban environment can influence the type of seeds a plant produces, increasing the chance for the seed to land in soil. Karen Hopkin reports. 00:01:16 Scientific American no Gadget Calculates Carbon Footprint http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=753B8587-C02E-0E98-A8CBE564ADDFC575&ref=p_rss 753B8587-C02E-0E98-A8CBE564ADDFC575 Mon, 3 Mar 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Gadget Calculates Carbon Footprint A student competition-winning project automatically calculates your carbon footprint while traveling. Cynthia Graber reports. 00:01:13 Carbon footprint, environment Scientific American no Recipe For Snow Includes Cloud Microbes http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=62663DCB-F726-9F61-FE21F419B325CA6A&ref=p_rss 62663DCB-F726-9F61-FE21F419B325CA6A Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Recipe For Snow Includes Cloud Microbes Bacteria in clouds may play a role in the growth of ice crystals that lead to snow and other precipitation. Karen Hopkin reports. 00:01:16 Meteorology, cloud seeding Scientific American no Conserving the Galapagos http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=5CAC2274-0E08-78FF-80ABC5D6333C9445&ref=p_rss 5CAC2274-0E08-78FF-80ABC5D6333C9445 Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Conserving the Galapagos Wind and solar power will do away with oil spills at the Galapagos, one of the science's most historic sites. Cynthia Graber reports. 00:01:14 Galapagos, environment Scientific American no Telescope Will Come To The Dark Side http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=5B679898-B295-0002-6774D06CF0C901F4&ref=p_rss 5B679898-B295-0002-6774D06CF0C901F4 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Telescope Will Come To The Dark Side Putting a giant radio telescope on the dark side of the moon will enabled an unparalled "view" of the universe. Adam Hinterthuer reports. 00:01:13 Moon, astronomy, radio telescope Scientific American no Nets Drive Evolution of Small Fish http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=566187BD-F1E3-539F-427B350E9333455D&ref=p_rss 566187BD-F1E3-539F-427B350E9333455D Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Nets Drive Evolution of Small Fish In a test lake stocked with two types of trout, fishing with nets mostly caught larger, faster-growing fish, leaving smaller, slower growers to survive and pass on those traits. Karen Hopkin reports. 00:01:16 Evolution, selection pressure, fish Scientific American no Better Beams Give More Big Bang For Buck http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=512526F6-A25A-819C-8804F040BEB4D6EC&ref=p_rss 512526F6-A25A-819C-8804F040BEB4D6EC Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Better Beams Give More Big Bang For Buck Particle beams traveling at almost the speed of light get lined up after information going even faster tells devices to straighten things out. The result may provide information about the Big Bang. Cynthia Graber reports. 00:01:14 Big Bang, Brookhaven Scientific American no Fabric Produces Electricity As You Wear It http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=3E0E600F-F7B2-4F1F-DA377027B8FDC443&ref=p_rss 3E0E600F-F7B2-4F1F-DA377027B8FDC443 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Fabric Produces Electricity As You Wear It Nanowires embedded in fabric produce small currents of electricity from the wearer's normal movement. Which could give a whole new meaning to the term 'running shorts.' Karen Hopkin reports. 00:01:17 Nanotech, materials science Scientific American no Blogging Can Make You Number One http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=3C96B178-9D43-F7E0-DD3CE78AFAC1D4CF&ref=p_rss 3C96B178-9D43-F7E0-DD3CE78AFAC1D4CF Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Blogging Can Make You Number One If you Google Zbigniew Brzezinski, chances are you'll find the one you're looking for. But finding a particular John Miller or Mary Jones can be problematic. But journalist Clive Thompson says that, because of the ranking system that Google uses, blogging is a good way for the generically named to rise to the top of any searches. Steve Mirsky reports from the Knight Science Journalism Fellowships Future of Science Journalism Symposium in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 00:01:20 Blogging, Google, Blog Scientific American no Mars Life Predictions Depend on Food Industry http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=37ED7473-0C74-BB9C-AD6928132555D090&ref=p_rss 37ED7473-0C74-BB9C-AD6928132555D090 Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Mars Life Predictions Depend on Food Industry Andrew Knoll, professor of earth and planetary sciences at Harvard, points out the reason we know so much about the conditions that might have or probably wouldn't have supported any microbial life on Mars: food scientists trying to keep our food free of deadly microbes. Steve Mirsky reports from the AAAS conference in Boston. 00:01:16 Mars, microbial ecology, exobiology Scientific American no Crichton's Climate Science Fiction http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=2AA82CE7-AF30-B232-1475AFBB19985232&ref=p_rss 2AA82CE7-AF30-B232-1475AFBB19985232 Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Crichton's Climate Science Fiction John Holdren, a science and technology policy expert at the JFK School of Government takes novelist Michael Crichton to task for claiming expertise in climate change science, and using it to attempt to influence policy. Steve Mirsky reports from the AAAS conference in Boston. 00:01:16 Michael Crichton, climate change, global warming Scientific American no Many Sun-like Stars Can Harbor Earth-like Planets http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcast.mp3?e_id=2AA69390-B4C6-816D-75980C12FA2DB9C1&ref=p_rss 2AA69390-B4C6-816D-75980C12FA2DB9C1 Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:08 -0500 Many Sun-like Stars Can Harbor Earth-like Planets By measuring the temperature of dust circling nearby Sun-like stars, researchers conclude that rocky bodies are smashing into each other with the potential to aggregate into rocky planets. Steve Mirsky reports from the AAAS conference in Boston. 00:01:15 Planet formation, Spitzer telescope Scientific American no