Cancer Detection Roundup
A new laser technique could diagnose skin cancer in minutes.
Star Distance
Astronomers calculate the distance to the furthest stars by comparing them to stars they know.
Podcast
NATURE OF INVENTION: Sea urchin teeth could inspire new nano-materials, and hornet stripes could lead to better solar technology. Also: automatic transmissions could revolutionize electric wheelchairs, and there's new research on the genetics of hair color and male pattern baldness.
Stonehenge Engineering
A new hypothesis explains how prehistoric people transported huge slabs of rock to Stonehenge.
Cat Roundup
Tigers are highly endangered in the wild and the remains of over one thousand of the big cats have been seized in the past decade.
Speedy Diodes
A new processor technology may potentially supplant the silicon chip.
Robot Gripper
Researchers have engineered a robotic gripper out of balloons and sand that is capable of picking up many kinds of objects.
Rail-Space Launcher
Giving spacecraft a running start on a long rail may significantly reduce launch costs.
White Clouds
If water droplets are clear, why do the clouds that form from them appear white?
Podcast
SPACE UPDATE: NASA prepares to launch a human-like robot into space, engineers are designing a more efficient system for launching payloads into orbit, why microwaves aren't as dangerous as some people think, and the physics behind the color of clouds.
Microwaves
Some people think microwave ovens and cell phones are dangerous, but their fears are not backed up by science.
Mica Life Hypothesis
A new hypothesis suggests that life began between ultra-thin sheets of minerals.
Podcast
AIR & SPACE: The moon is shrinking - slowly, astronomers discover a solar system similar to our own, exploring the moons of Jupiter, how satellite-based mapping programs can help during natural disasters, and why clouds have distinct borders.
Pigeon Illusions
A listener asks: Why do pigeons bob their heads back and forth when they walk?
Moons of Jupiter
Designing instruments for planned missions to explore Jupiter's many moons requires a combination of scientific acumen and engineering skill.
Designing Faces
An engineering design technique can help surgeons reconstruct the delicate bones of the face.
Podcast
SUNSCREEN & SUPPLEMENTS: Sunscreens from ivy, why tanning oil speeds up skin damage, and when to apply sunscreen. Also: the link between fructose and pancreatic cancer, and over-the-counter weight-loss supplements fail the grade.
Ivy Sunscreen
English ivy produces natural nano-sized particles that could improve sunscreens.
Tanning Oil
Using tanning oil to get a speedier tan can damage skin more quickly.
Forgery-Foiling Butterflies
The colors that make up some butterfly wings could help foil forgery.