Podcast for 31 May 2013
EAT OR BE EATEN - Cannibal baby sharks, ladybugs that eat other ladybugs, and monkeys that adopt the local cuisine. Also: how baby seals learn to hunt. And, why global warming could turn snowshoe hares into easy prey.
Medicine from Animals Roundup
Some of the most useful medicines come from dangerous toxins found in nature.
Itch Molecule
Researchers have identified a molecule that's essential for itching.
A Beetle Battle
An invasive ladybird beetle kills off native species with microorganisms in its body.
Aging Color Vision
Our eyes’ ability to detect color deteriorates with age, but our brains compensate.
Shark Siblicide
Unborn baby sharks gobble up their brothers and sisters in the womb.
Podcast for 17 May 2013
VISION SCIENCE - A camera modeled after the compound eyes of insects. How the brain compensates for worsening color vision as we age. And, could electrical simulation to the brain improve math performance? Also: Young people are still flocking to tanning booths, despite the risk of developing life-threatening melanoma.
Insect-Inspired Camera
The compound eyes of insects have inspired the design of a new camera.
Podcast for 10 May 2013
EYES, EARS & THE BRAIN - How short-term hearing loss protects the ears. The brain's number hotspot. And: could lasers wipe out cocaine addiction? Also: A nanosponge that soaks up toxins in the body.
Changing Hare Color
Climate change could make snowshoe hare camouflage less protective.
Parasite-Inspired Adhesives
A marine parasite has inspired new surgical adhesives.
Podcast for 19 April 2013
GIANT SNAILS & ANCIENT TREES - Giant aliens attack Florida, unsticking geckos, the worlds within carnivorous plants, and mapless migrant monarchs.
Mapless Monarch Migration
Monarch butterflies migrate from North to South America without a mental map.
Sound & Memory
Playing soundwaves synchronized with a person's own deep sleep rhythms may improve short-term memory.
Brainy Athletes
Olympic-level athletes have some enhanced cognitive abilities.
Carnivorous Plant Food Webs
Each carnivorous pitcher plant contains a unique food web, depending on what falls in.
Podcast for 12 April 2013
ATHLETES & ROBOTS - Elite athletes are far from dumb jocks. A common ingredient in energy drinks could promote heart disease. Also: Robots that learn by watching us, and robots that can walk on sand.
Fairy Circles
Mysterious “fairy circles” on African plains are caused by termites, which destroy patches of grass but help the surrounding grass thrive.
Reviving Extinct Species
Using frozen DNA, researchers have created early-stage embryos of an extinct frog.
Podcast for 5 April 2013
LESSONS FROM THE DEAD - Scientists attempt to bring back an extinct frog. Mummies showing signs of heart disease make researchers rethink assumptions about lifestyle and diet. The mysterious death zone within African "fairy circles" explained. Also: a miniature laboratory under the skin monitors blood chemistry.
Remote Blood Testing
Researchers have developed an implantable blood testing sensor that can monitor blood glucose levels and chemotherapy drugs, among other things.
Down Syndrome Protein
Deficiency in a key protein may strongly contribute to cognitive impairments in Down Syndrome.
Mummy Heart Disease
Mummies from a variety of different cultures show signs of heart disease.