Robot Gaze Aversion
Humans relate better to robots that avert their eyes at well-chosen moments.
Robot Toy Box
Researchers are testing different interactive strategies for a robot toy box that encourages kids to clean up.
Sea Turtle Tracking
Scientists are using satellites to track the mysterious migrations of young sea turtles.
Recycled Water
Would you drink recycled water if you were assured it was safe?
Flying Snake Physics
Flying snakes flatten their bodies to make themselves more aerodynamic.
Micro Bio-Bots
Tiny, swimming robots, modeled on sperm, use living cells to propel their tails.
Turkey Skin Sensor
A new chemical sensor was inspired by turkey skin's color changing properties.
Metal in Microwaves
If metal isn’t supposed to go in microwave ovens, why do some of them have metal racks?
Algae Biofuel Breakthrough
Scientists have overcome a major challenge in the commercial production of biofuel.
Endangered Whale Detector
Engineers are developing “whale detectors” to help ships avoid striking them.
Podcast for 25 October 2013
OCEAN SCIENCE - Old warships become new habitats. An ocean quadcopter gives researchers a sky-high view of the stormy North Atlantic. And, autonomous underwater vehicles that search for sunken treasure. Also, behind the untimely death of the octopus.
Ocean Quadcopter
A tiny but rugged unmanned helicopter helps researchers collect data in the stormy North Atlantic.
Sunken Treasure Hunt
Researchers have designed an underwater vehicle to search for shipwrecked vessels filled with treasure off the coast of Florida.
Everyday Objects Roundup
Discarded compact discs could be used to treat wastewater.
Podcast for 27 September 2013
INSECTS & SPIDERS - Could spider venom be the next insecticide? Why mosquitoes smell you better at night. And debunking the myth of extracting dinosaur DNA from insects preserved in amber. Also, insect legs that bear an uncanny resemblance to modern machinery.
Insect Gears
Some insects' legs have gears that look and function like the classic man-made invention.
Birds Fight Global Warming
The highly efficient lungs of birds are inspiring climate-friendly carbon-capturing filters.
Iron Beads from Space
Ancient Egyptians fashioned beads out of iron from meteorites.
Metal in Microwaves
If metal isn't supposed to go in microwave ovens, why do some of them have metal racks?
Podcast for 16 August 2013
OCEAN LIFE - Scientists test a 3-D underwater microscope. How oxygen led to the rise of ocean carnivores. And why some fish are going back to school. Also, can computers be funny?
Self-Sustaining Buildings
The next generation of green buildings may be self-sufficient.
Nanobattery Roundup
Researchers are developing nano-sized batteries to power medical devices and miniature robots.
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.