Overcoming Arachnophobia
Peoples’ brain activity changes permanently when they overcome a phobia.
Insect Roundup
To protect tiny machines from hidden dangers, engineers are getting inspiration from insects.
Inheriting Anxiety
The great-grandchildren of rats given a fungicide were more stressed-out and anxious than other rats.
Lizard Spit Roundup
A chemical in Gila monster venom suppresses appetite in rats.
Social Status Genes
When a female monkey’s rank changes, thousands of her genes are affected.
Raven Relationships
Ravens remember other ravens as friendly or adversarial, even years later.
Podcast for 11 May 2012
BIRDS & DINOSAURS - Scientists discover T. Rex's feathered cousin, did dino gas warm the ancient earth? And giant fleas that may have pestered the prehistoric giants. Also: why the amorous pursuits of an Australian bird has turned it into a horticulturalist, and how ravens keep track of friend and foe.
Dinosaur Roundup
Dinosaurs may have contributed to ancient global warming.
Gardening Birds
Male Spotted Bowerbirds unintentionally cultivate ornamental plants while attempting to woo the opposite sex.
T. Rex’s Feathered Cousin
Paleontologists discover a cousin of T. Rex in China – that had feathers.
Techno Animal Roundup
Researchers are breeding specialized fish that glow when exposed to industrial pollutants.
Baby Goat Accents
Baby goats’ baas may contain a hidden message for their herdmates.
Predators & Plants
Eliminating bears, wolves, and other top predators has far-reaching consequences.
Baboon Words
Baboons can learn to distinguish English words from nonsense letter sequences.
Penguins from Space
Researchers have estimated the total number of Emperor Penguins in Antarctica using satellite images.
Podcast for 20 April 2012
SOUND SCIENCE - Can sounds influence dreams? Emotional similarities between music and speech. Does a deeper voice lead people to vote for a political candidate? Baboons that recognize words. And baby goats with accents.
Sugar-Free Carnivores
Each group of carnivores has a different set of genetic mutations that has knocked out its sweet tooth.
Monkey Miscarriages
Wild gelada monkeys spontaneously abort pregnancies when a new male takes over the group.
Sex, Flies & Alcohol
Sex-deprived male fruit flies consume more alcohol than sexually satisfied flies.
Naked Mole Rat Brains
Researchers have figured out why naked mole rats are resistant to stroke.
Australian Extinction
Human hunters drove Australia’s largest animals to extinction around 40,000 years ago.
Podcast for 23 March 2012
EVOLUTION & EXTINCTION - What really happened to Australia's missing megafauna, how carnivores lost their sweet tooth, why lovelorn fruit flies resort to alcohol, strategic miscarriages in monkeys, and a new frog species is discovered in plain sight.