Podcast for 13 May 2011 – Neuropsychology
Researchers erase sea snail memories, the brain's sarcasm detector, why a lack of embarrassment could be a sign of dementia, and schizophrenia in a petri dish.
Podcast for 29 April 2011 – Whale Songs & Zebra Stripes
Cultural revolutions in humpback whale songs, a barcode scanner for zebra stripes, a prehistoric toothache, and changing skull sizes in the Iberian Peninsula.
Shifting Skull Sizes
Over the past few centuries, women's skulls have grown closer to the size of men's, at least in one part of the world.
Zebra Barcodes
Zebra stripes resemble barcodes, and could help researchers keep track of each member of the herd.
Sounding Out Insects
An automatic insect detection system that uses a variety of technologies could help monitor insect infestations.
Cuts & Tumors
Stem cells flock to the site of wounds, sometimes leading to tumors in mice.
Microscopic Roundup
Genetically engineered bacteria could help ferry drugs to where they’re needed most in the body.
Sleepless Euphoria
Sleep deprivation can lead to temporary euphoria. But there’s a downside.
Full-Bodied Taste
Taste receptors are not just located in the mouth, but throughout the body.
Soundscape Ecology
An emerging scientific field studies the ecology of sound.
Fruit & Flies Roundup
A delicious, but neglected fruit could get its day in the sun again with a bit of genetic engineering.
Everglades Pythons
Invasive Burmese pythons are feasting on native birds in the Everglades.
Gibbon Dialects
Gibbons in Southeast Asia have identifiable regional dialects.
Loneliness & The Immune System
The immune systems of chronically lonely people switch from fighting viruses to fighting bacterial infections.
Podcast for 25 February 2011: Language & Behavior
The surprising way the brain processes Braille, bilingualism staves off dementia, and new research on stuttering. Also: why being lonely could change how your immune system works, and the relationship between popularity and bullying.
Bats & Carnivorous Plants
At least one carnivorous plant appears to have lost its taste for insects in favor of bat guano.
Left-Handed Brains
Left-handers suffer more from learning disabilities but can also excel in spatial visualization.
A Fairy-Wren Tale
A small Australian bird may benefit from the songs of one of its predators.
Sexing Pterodactyls
The discovery of a female pterodactyl with an egg in China is making paleontologists take a second look at old fossil collections.
Podcast
ANIMAL STORIES: An Australian bird benefits when its predator sings, what happens when bees get sleepy, the invasion of the giant fish, eating insects to slow global warming, and a female pterodactyl fossil is discovered in China.
Science Illiteracy Roundup
A new study reflects an alarming lack of science literacy among U.S. college students.