Food Reward Circuit
A molecule in the gut controls the brain's response to food, and its absence could lead to overeating and obesity.
Drug & Nutrition Roundup
New research shows that marijuana may be harmful to adolescent brain development.
Artificial Dyes
Some people argue that food dyes are harmful to human health, but do decades of safety research back up these allegations?
Silk Brain Implants
Silk brain implants could prevent the onset of epilepsy after brain injuries.
Podcast for 2 August 2013
NATURE & HEALTH - Scientists look to the oceans for new antibiotics. The full moon affects sleep patterns. And, how paleo is the so-called "Paleo" diet? Also: How apes remember events.
Longevity Markers
Low birth weight, unhealthy aging, and chemical signatures in the blood may all be intertwined.
How Paleo is “Paleo”?
Did our hunter-gatherer ancestors really eat a “Paleo” diet?
Cancer-Sniffing Scalpel
A new surgical knife can tell if it's cutting a tumor or healthy tissue.
Ocean Antibiotics
Researchers have discovered a compound in the Pacific Ocean that fights both staph infections and anthrax.
Secondhand Vaccinations
A vaccine for infants has surprisingly benefited unvaccinated seniors.
Podcast for 19 July 2013
ANCIENT ANATOMY - What dental records from the Mesozoic era can tell us about the lives of dinosaurs. How humans are uniquely adapted to throw baseballs. Also: an automated nature recording system that's monitoring environmental change. And, could vaccinating children protect the elderly as well?
Refreshing Blood
Replenishing stored blood's nitric oxide may make transfusions more effective and less risky.
Evolution of the Fastball
Human anatomy is uniquely evolved to throw spears - and baseballs.
Podcast for 12 July 2013
AUSTRALIAN ANIMALS - Male lyrebirds groove to their own music. Young fairywrens learn who their enemies are by watching their parents. Robotic seals help improve the quality of life of dementia patients. Also, could rats could help people keep their voices strong in old age?
Robotic Pets for Dementia
Robotic stuffed animals may help decrease anxiety in dementia patients.
Reverse Vaccine
A “reverse vaccine” may treat type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases.
Podcast for 28 June 2013
BRAINS & BEHAVIOR - When apes take a gamble. The value of precision in negotiations. And a new approach to targeting drug addiction in the brain. Also: what above-ground nuclear tests in the mid-20th century can tell scientists about the brain.
Medieval Leprosy
Researchers have reconstructed the entire genome of Medieval-era leprosy bacteria.
Microbe Roundup
Microscopic organisms represent a vast, unexplored territory for biologists trying to understand the earth’s ecology—including the ecology inside our homes and even our bodies.
Podcast for 14 June 2013
WHEN SCIENCE MEETS HISTORY - Ocean temperature records from a 19th century research ship confirm global warming. Reviving plants hidden under glaciers for centuries. Tracing the genetic origins of the blight that started the Irish Potato Famine. And uncovering evidence of lead pollution in Spain from 4,000 years ago.
Unusual Species Roundup
Rare species can have a surprising impact on ecosystems.
Chemotherapy & Infertility
Researchers discover why chemotherapy makes women infertile – and hopefully, how to stop it.