The New York Academy of Sciences

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Are We Alone in the Universe? Oct 27, 2016

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According to Enrico Fermi, there's a high probability of extraterrestrial life, but we haven't found any yet. Why is that? Listen in as top scientists discuss the question of what and who else might be out there. Featuring Adam Frank (University of Rochester), Louisa Preston (astrobiologist and author), Jason Thomas Wright (Pennsylvania State University), and Stephen M. Gardiner (University of Washington), with moderation by Ira Flatow (PRI's Science Friday ), this podcast features audio from the fifth event in our series, The Physics of Everything.

The Face of Science: Myths and Misconceptions Oct 05, 2016

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Even in the 21st century, there's a significant percentage of people who deeply mistrust science and scientists. Why? And what can we do about it? The first of a three-part series. For more on this topic, view our Developing Scientists through Outreach eBriefing.

The Rise of Human Consciousness Sep 14, 2016

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Advances in physical sciences, biology, and neuroscience have dramatically enhanced our knowledge of the human species. But can physical sciences solve the biggest mystery the emergence of human consciousness? A distinguished panel of experts, including David Chalmers, PhD, Michael Graziano, PhD, Hod Lipson, PhD, and Max Tegmark, PhD, will discuss in this new podcast. Scientific American's George Musser moderates. This podcast features audio from the fourth event in our series, The Physics of Everything.

Proof of Concept Centers: From Proof to Product Aug 25, 2016

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Research only turns into a real-world solution if it becomes something you can buy and use, but there are a lot of challenges to taking a great idea from the lab and making it a viable commercial product. Researchers can become entrepreneurs by studying the marketplace and learning to listen to their potential customers. Learn more about our Proof of Concept Centers here.

The Emerging Science of Complexity Aug 04, 2016

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Today, more than ever, we can better understand just how complex our world is, from social groups to economic markets to neurons in the brain and our immune systems. But will these new complexity frontiers complement contemporary physics or upend it completely? Listen in to a discussion about the future of complexity with four distinguished speakers: Bernard Chazelle, PhD

Understanding the Biological Basis of Pediatric Cancer Jul 19, 2016

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Advances in genomic medicine indicate that pediatric cancers may be quite different from their adult counterparts. Hear from experts on why this might be and what scientists are doing to understand it better. Many pediatric cancers do not harbor the same targetable mutations seen in adult tumors, making it imperative that we understand the reasons behind these differences. Following up on the 2016 Sohn Conference, "Pediatric Cancer in a Post-genomic World," presented by The Sohn Conference Foundation and the New York Academy of Sciences, this podcast gives listeners a glimpse into where research and treatment are today and where they are headed in the future.

Where Physics and Philosophy Intersect Jun 23, 2016

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Listen in to a discussion with writer Jim Holt, philosophers David Z. Albert and Hans Halvorson, and science writer Kate Becker about the realms where physics and philosophy intersect. For centuries, physics and philosophy walked side by side in pursuit of their shared goal understanding the nature of reality. The progress of science has pushed the frontier of physics into the realm of advanced mathematics, which requires technical skill and levels of abstraction attainable only after years of dedicated training. At the same time, most physicists today do not receive training in philosophy and epistemology, few have the time to ponder philosophical implications of their work, and some even doubt the possibility of a meaningful dialog between physicists and philosophers. However, at its core, physics addresses the fundamental problems that shape our philosophical outlook. This podcast features audio from our second Physics of Everything event. This podcast was made possible through the support of a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.

Bioethics Meets R&D: The Ethics of Pre-approval Access Jun 02, 2016

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The Division of Medical Ethics at NYU School of Medicine and the Academy bring together patients, regulators, manufacturers, journalists, and experts to debate the difficult ethical issues surrounding “compassionate use” of pre-approved medicines. Patients with life-threatening illnesses face challenges in accessing potential therapies at the cutting-edge of R

Is There a Limit to Human Knowledge? May 12, 2016

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Featuring cosmologist Neil Weiner, string theorist Eva Silverstein, and physicist Vijay Balasubramanian, with moderation from philosopher of science Jill North, this podcast explores what the future holds for physics. Modern physics and its leading theories have been remarkably successful in describing the history of our universe, and large-scale experiments, such as the Large Hadron Collider, are continuously producing new data that extend our knowledge of the world. Nevertheless, our understanding of some physical concepts that seek to explain our universe dark matter and dark energy, quantum gravity, supersymmetry, and the cosmological constant remain unresolved. This podcast features audio from our first Physics of Everything event. This podcast was made possible through the support of a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.

Little Beans, Big Opportunities Apr 21, 2016

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For 2016, the International Year of Pulses, our Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science is looking at the many opportunities provided by pulses edible seeds like dried, lentils, and chickpeas. Pulses provide a non-animal source of protein, appear to be healthy for the gut microbiome, and help replenish the soil where they are grown. In this podcast we'll talk to scientists studying the benefits of pulses about their research and also how we might solve the challenge of moving these important foods from millions of small-scale farmers in India and Latin America to consumers worldwide.

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