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 -- or online here!
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Noviembre 14, 2008 - 5:04pm
More than 45 years ago, primatologist Jane Goodall observed wild chimpanzees making and using tools — a finding that dramatically changed the field of primate research. Goodall discusses her career and what lies ahead in the field of evolutionary science.
Noviembre 14, 2008 - 5:04pm
Researchers report that listening to joyful music can cause blood vessels to dilate, increasing blood flow — which is good for cardiovascular health. Michael Miller, principal investigator of the study, explains the brain-body link and which songs may make for healthy hearts.
Noviembre 14, 2008 - 5:04pm
Mechanical engineers Seth Lichter and Mark Weislogel wondered what would happen if they popped water balloons aboard NASA's low-gravity aircraft. Aside from the "fun factor," as Weislogel puts it, the results demonstrate some basic principles of physics.
Noviembre 14, 2008 - 5:04pm
Researchers have figured out just how bleach kills bacteria, according to a new study in the journal Cell. Ursula Jakob, one of the authors of the paper, explains how bleach does its dirty work and how this information might be put to good use.
Noviembre 14, 2008 - 5:04pm
A study in The New England Journal of Medicine suggests that the drug Crestor, typically used for reducing cholesterol levels, may reduce the risk of heart disease for people with normal cholesterol levels. But do the potential benefits offset the risks and cost of the drugs?
Noviembre 14, 2008 - 5:04pm
Two independent research teams have detected exoplanets through unconventional methods — by taking snapshots using visible and infrared light. Astronomer James Graham discusses the findings — including what the exoplanets might tell us about the formation of planets and solar systems.
Noviembre 7, 2008 - 5:02pm
With the election behind him, President-elect Barack Obama is beginning to assemble his transition team. From energy policy to heath care, how will Obama approach science, technology and health issues? Which programs do you think should be on his agenda?
Noviembre 7, 2008 - 5:02pm
Eighty-four teams of students from 21 countries are gathering at MIT to compete in the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition. The teams have been working since the summer to construct biological machine systems — and operate them within living cells.
Noviembre 7, 2008 - 5:02pm
A new interdisciplinary online-only journal from the American Institute of Physics is focusing on the burgeoning renewable- and sustainable-energy fields. The peer-reviewed Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy will feature a blog, top news stories and multimedia features.
Noviembre 7, 2008 - 5:02pm
Mark Newman, professor of physics at the University of Michigan, has a new spin on an old map. He created a program to make cartograms — maps in which states are drawn with their size proportional to their population, rather than their acreage.
Noviembre 7, 2008 - 5:02pm
Two papers published in the journal Cell Metabolism present different approaches to controlling glucose levels in people with Type 2 diabetes — the form of diabetes in which the body gradually loses the ability to use insulin to control sugar levels in the blood.
Noviembre 7, 2008 - 5:02pm
A genetics team sequenced DNA from both cancerous and normal tissue from a patient with the white blood cell cancer. The researchers then compared the two sequences to identify 10 mutated genes that appear to be associated with the formation of the cancer.
Noviembre 7, 2008 - 5:02pm
A new study published in the Journal of Neuroscience shows that mice treated with large doses of vitamin B3 performed better on memory tests. Kim Green, one of the authors of the study, explains whether this discovery could have any application for treating Alzheimer's in humans.
Octubre 31, 2008 - 4:11pm
A new exhibit at California's Huntington Library showcases centuries of diagrams covering everything from anatomy to astronomy. Beautiful Science: Ideas that Changed the World collects original drawings from scientists such as Galileo, Darwin and Robert Hooke.
Octubre 31, 2008 - 4:11pm
Bill Schutt, author of Dark Banquet: Blood and the Curious Lives of Blood-Feeding Creatures, discusses the real "vampires" in this Halloween-day edition of Science Friday.
Octubre 31, 2008 - 4:11pm
A newly-discovered fungus may be the source of a deadly plague sweeping through bat communities across the country. Researchers have reported a 75 percent decline in populations among many northeastern species of bats.
Octubre 31, 2008 - 4:11pm
A heart pathologist shows how long-dead hearts look and feel, and what that tells us about their former owners.
Octubre 31, 2008 - 4:11pm
The MESSENGER probe captured images of never-before-seen aspects of the closest planet to the Sun during a recent flyby. Researcher Sean Soloman discusses the MESSENGER mission, which aims to be the first man-made object to orbit Mercury.
Octubre 31, 2008 - 4:11pm
There is a new proposal on the ballot in Michigan that would expand the use of human embryos in medical research, but would limit the manner in which they could be acquired. The proposal appears to be popular in public opinion polls.
Octubre 31, 2008 - 4:11pm
Oetzi, a mummified man found frozen in the Italian Alps after 5,300 years, has no living genetic descendants among modern humans. The discovery came after researchers sequenced Oetzi's entire genome and compared it with human DNA.
