A Beetle Battle
An invasive ladybird beetle kills off native species with microorganisms in its body.
Irish Potato Famine Origins
Scientists have identified the genetic variant of the fungus-like organism responsible for setting off the Irish Potato Famine.
Starch from Cellulose
Cellulose, an indigestible material found in all plants, can be converted into healthy, edible starch.
Podcast for 19 April 2013
GIANT SNAILS & ANCIENT TREES - Giant aliens attack Florida, unsticking geckos, the worlds within carnivorous plants, and mapless migrant monarchs.
Carnivorous Plant Food Webs
Each carnivorous pitcher plant contains a unique food web, depending on what falls in.
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.
Electric Flowers
Low-voltage electricity may help guide bees to the right flowers.
Pollinators in Peril
Wild pollinators may contribute more to the world’s food supply than domesticated honeybees.
Tricking the Sweet Tooth
Understanding the chemical composition of tomatoes could help manufacturers decrease the sugar content of processed foods.
Plants Smell Danger
A type of plant can sense mating chemicals from fruit flies, and builds up its defenses when it does.
Neolithic Woodworking
The discovery of ancient wooden wells in Germany reveals that Neolithic woodworking was more sophisticated than previously believed.
Transparent Soil
A transparent soil substitute may lead to big strides in plant research.
Podcast for 28 September 2012
ENERGY & AGRICULTURE - New developments in wind power, a solar cell made from spinach, transparent soil clarifies plant research, extending the growing season, and how rainforests prevent drought in farmland.
Rainforests & Rainfall
Deforestation can lead to droughts hundreds of miles away.
Spinach Solar Cell
A protein in spinach packs a punch when it comes to converting solar energy into electricity.
Endless Summer Roundup
By manipulating how plants respond to the shorter days in the fall, researchers hope to get crops to produce fruit longer.
Flora & Fauna Roundup
A strange looking tropical plant is helping researchers understand the life-cycle of the cell.
Pollution Scrubbing Roundup
Newly developed materials can pull carbon dioxide out of the air.
Urban Greening
Strategically placed grass, ivy, and other greenery can significantly improve air quality in urban centers.
Podcast for 20 July 2012
HISTORY MEETS SCIENCE - Dairy detectives discover ancient milk, the historical practice of bloodletting gets a second look, and revisiting failed ideas for saving lives. Also: What migraine headaches and the Mutiny on the Bounty have in common.
Dairy Detectives
Traces of milk fat in pottery confirm that prehistoric North Africans practiced dairy farming.
Tasteless Tomatoes
Scientists discover the biochemistry behind tasteless supermarket tomatoes.