Psychopaths’ Brains
Specific brain abnormalities distinguish true psychopaths from other violent criminals.
Squid & Zebrafish Camouflage
Squid and zebrafish are models for new smart camouflage materials.
Yeast on Zoloft
The antidepressant Zoloft affects cell membranes in yeast, which lack the brain chemical the drug targets.
Podcast for 25 May 2012
FARM SCIENCE - Does exposure to farms and forests stave off asthma and allergies? How to combat viruses with pigs. And why milk goes sour faster than other beverages.
Lizard Spit Roundup
A chemical in Gila monster venom suppresses appetite in rats.
Biodiversity, Allergies & Asthma
People who live around fewer varieties of plants, and whose skin carries fewer kinds of bacteria, are more likely to have allergies.
Food Chemistry Roundup
New studies reveal why black pepper fights fat cells, and why caffeine could help dry eye syndrome.
Social Status Genes
When a female monkey’s rank changes, thousands of her genes are affected.
Podcast for 11 May 2012
BIRDS & DINOSAURS - Scientists discover T. Rex's feathered cousin, did dino gas warm the ancient earth? And giant fleas that may have pestered the prehistoric giants. Also: why the amorous pursuits of an Australian bird has turned it into a horticulturalist, and how ravens keep track of friend and foe.
Dinosaur Roundup
Dinosaurs may have contributed to ancient global warming.
Sewage Power
Microbial fuel cells, which clean wastewater and generate electricity, are getting closer to practicality.
Gardening Birds
Male Spotted Bowerbirds unintentionally cultivate ornamental plants while attempting to woo the opposite sex.
T. Rex’s Feathered Cousin
Paleontologists discover a cousin of T. Rex in China – that had feathers.
Body Clock Reset
Adjusting a mouse's body clock improves its metabolism and promotes weight loss.
Room Bacteria
Just by entering a room, you stir up millions of microorganisms.
Podcast for 27 April 2012
Why some planets are on the run. How to harpoon a comet. And counting penguins from space.
Matching the Drug to the Bug
A new technique can quickly identify a pathogen and size up its drug resistance, all with one test.
Penguins from Space
Researchers have estimated the total number of Emperor Penguins in Antarctica using satellite images.
Podcast for 20 April 2012
SOUND SCIENCE - Can sounds influence dreams? Emotional similarities between music and speech. Does a deeper voice lead people to vote for a political candidate? Baboons that recognize words. And baby goats with accents.
Podcast for 13 April 2012
CHEMISTRY & LIFE - What 2-billion-year-old raindrop fossils can tell us about conditions on the early earth. What science is revealing about the artwork of Leonardo da Vinci and Vincent Van Gogh. And a breakthrough in materials science technology yields plastic that can repair itself.
Tumor-Shrinking Drug
Scientists are testing a drug that shrinks a wide variety of cancerous tumors.
Sugar-Free Carnivores
Each group of carnivores has a different set of genetic mutations that has knocked out its sweet tooth.
Antibiotics and Asthma
Taking antibiotics early in life can lead to asthma, according to a study in mice.