Science Talk

Latest Episodes:

Swimming In Spacetime and Other Stories Jul 31, 2009

Show notes

Scientific American Editor in Chief Mariette DiChristina and staff editor Kate Wong talk about the contents of the August issue, including articles on some of the odd consequences of general relativity, life as a Neandertal, and the latest research on celiac disease. Plus, we'll test your knowledge of some recent science in the news

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nuts, Bolts, Photons and Electrons of Solar Energy Jul 23, 2009

Show notes

Jeff Wolfe, the CEO and co-founder of groSolar, talks about solar energy's present and future. Plus, we'll test your knowledge of some recent science in the news. Web sites related to this episode include www.grosolar.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Movie Magic (Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs), Part 3 Jul 14, 2009

Show notes

In this series of episodes, we talk to many of the scientists at Blue Sky Studios, which created the Ice Age series of animated features, including the recently released Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. In episode 3, we hear from co-director Mike Thurmeier, art director Mike Knapp and head of lighting Andew Beddini. Special thanks to Hugo Ayala. Web sites related to this episode include www.blueskystudios.com and www.iceagemovie.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Movie Magic (Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs), Part 2 Jul 11, 2009

Show notes

In this series of episodes, we talk to many of the scientists at Blue Sky Studios, which created the Ice Age series of animated features, including the recently released Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. In episode 2, we hear from the research and development team about their backgrounds, the kinds of technical challenges they face and the ways they use math and computers to solve those problems. Web sites related to this episode include www.blueskystudios.com; www.iceagemovie.com; www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=magic-and-the-brain

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Movie Magic (Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs), Part 1 Jul 10, 2009

Show notes

In this series of episodes, we talk to many of the scientists at Blue Sky Studios, which created the Ice Age series of animated features, including the recently released Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. In episode 1, we hear from company founders Carl Ludwig and Eugene Troubetzkoy and senior research associate Hugo Ayala. Web sites related to this episode include www.blueskystudios.com and www.iceagemovie.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Atul Gawande Redux Jul 01, 2009

Show notes

While Steve's at the conference of the World Federation of Science Journalists in London, we look ahead to some of the programming coming your way in the coming weeks, and we replay our 2007 interview with surgeon Atul Gawande, whose recent research in The New England Journal of Medicine and writing in The New Yorker have caused a big stir in the medical and health care reform communities. Web sites related to this episode include http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/06/01/090601fa_fact_gawande?yrail and http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/NEJMsa0810119

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hello Moon, Good-Bye Rennie Jun 26, 2009

Show notes

We look at the contents of the July issue of Scientific American magazine, the last under outgoing Editor in Chief John Rennie, including an article by moon explorer Harrison Schmitt, a piece on the fight against superbugs, a report on the potential of biofuels such as grassoline, and a recollection of the pernicious effects of chess! Plus, we'll test your knowledge of some recent science in the news

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Panamania!: A Visit to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Jun 17, 2009

Show notes

We take a walking tour of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute on Barro Colorado Island in Panama, with the STRI's Beth King and Harilaos Lessios. Plus, we'll test your knowledge of some recent science in the news. Web Sites related to this episode include www.stri.org

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Truth about Cats and Dogs May 29, 2009

Show notes

Scientific American magazine Editor in Chief John Rennie talks about the contents of the June issue, including articles on the evolution of cats and the physiology of sled dogs. Plus, we'll test your knowledge of some recent science in the news

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

High Achievement High Schoolers May 19, 2009

Show notes

High school scientists Sruti Swaminathan, Maia ten Brink, Alyssa Bailey, Moyukh Chatterjee and Fedja Kadribasic, all winners of state competitions sponsored by the American Junior Academy of Sciences, talk about their research. Plus, we'll test your knowledge of some recent science in the news

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices