Placebos & Pain
Can the placebo effect be harnessed to help people with chronic pain?
Building With Viruses
Researchers have turned viruses into molecular building blocks.
Rice Blood Protein
Scientists in China and North America have produced human blood protein from genetically modified rice seeds.
Gut Stem Cells
Overfeeding fruit flies sets off a chain reaction that makes their intestine grow.
Light-Based Pacemaker
Scientists have designed a pacemaker that restarts the heart with light instead of electricity.
Podcast for 11 November 2011
ANIMALS & HEALTH - Why one insect's mating habits could lead to its downfall, why predators are literally scaring dragonflies to death, and pythons reveal the benefits of having a big heart. Also: why animals swimming in the ocean may be affecting the global climate.
Infection Roundup
New research suggests that fevers may boost the immune system.
Outdoor Vision
The incidence of nearsightedness has increased dramatically over the past few decades. Researchers think a lack of outdoor activity could be partially responsible.
Podcast for 4 November 2011
THE SCIENCE OF LIGHT & VISION - A pacemaker that restarts the heart with light, and a secret code made from fluorescent bacteria. And, could a lack of outdoor activity be making kids more nearsighted? Also: new research suggests that IQ might not be as stable as once thought.
Alcohol & Infection
Lab studies show how alcohol inhibits the immune system's response to an infection.
Podcast for 28 October 2011
SCIENCE UNDERWATER - Why the seas of the future may belong to jellyfish, why fish tanks can be breeding grounds for aggression, how chatter between ocean bacteria contributes to climate change, and good news about sea turtles. Also, scientists unveil the first underwater cloaking device.
Pre-Empting Allergies
A new treatment may block specific allergies without disrupting other immune functions.
The E. Coli Code
Scientists have created a secret fluorescent code by inserting jellyfish genes into E. coli bacteria.
Anti-Magnets
Scientists have designed a theoretical anti-magnet. If it works in practice, it could have profound effects on both medicine and industry.
Breath Toxin Detector
Advances in technology have made it possible to develop a hand-held breath test for a wide range of toxic chemicals.
Podcast for 21 October 2011
PREVENTIVE HEALTH - Vitamin D and ethnicity, a breath test for toxins, drinking and the immune system, measuring pain in the brain, and a new weapon to combat allergic reactions.
Aquarium Fish Aggression
Bigger tanks and richer environments reduce aggression in popular pet fish.
Woolly Mammoth Blood
A replica of woolly mammoth blood protein may lead to treatments for hypothermia and improvements in surgery.
Tooth Regeneration
A new technique can reverse early tooth decay without drilling.
Measuring Pain
Researchers have developed a way to measure pain in the brain.
Vitamin D & Ethnicity
African-American men living in high latitudes are often deficient in Vitamin D.
Podcast for 30 September 2011
HORMONES & BEHAVIOR - Testosterone and fatherhood, the genetics of oxytocin and depression, gender and spatial reasoning revisited, where taste is found in the brain, and more.
Psychology Roundup
More time spent playing outside could help decrease symptoms in children with ADHD.