NOVA scienceNOW

Did Bugs Do In the Dinos?

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:00:00 -0500

Did a massive asteroid kill off the dinosaurs? Maybe not. Entomologist George Poinar thinks something much smaller might have done the job. Podcast produced by David Levin. Interview by Terri Randall. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA is provided by ExxonMobil, David H. Koch, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and public television viewers. Major funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by Pfizer, the National Science Foundation, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Additional funding is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0229297. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more fun science stories, visit our website at pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

Finding Other Earths

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:00:00 -0500

The Kepler Space Telescope, which is scheduled to launch in 2009, may help astronomers find other earth-like planets for the first time. Podcast produced by David Levin. Interviews by Julia Cort. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA is provided by ExxonMobil, David H. Koch, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and public television viewers. Major funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by Pfizer, the National Science Foundation, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Additional funding is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0229297. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more fun science stories, visit our Web site at pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

Smart Birds

Wed, 1 Oct 2008 16:00:00 -0500

Some parrots can talk-but can they really understand what they're saying? In this podcast, researcher Irene Pepperberg describes her cognitive experiments with African grey parrots, and discusses why the line between human and animal intelligence is sometimes blurry. Produced by David Levin. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Major funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by Pfizer, the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and public television viewers. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0229297. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more fun science stories, visit our Web site at http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

Tiny Black Holes

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:00:00 -0500

CERN's massive particle collider in Geneva, Switzerland, may create tiny black holes when it goes online-hopefully-in 2008. Not to worry, though: In this podcast, physicist Dave Wark explains that there's no way these can destroy the world. This podcast was produced by David Levin. Interview with Dave Wark by Rima Chaddha. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Major funding for NOVA is provided by The DOW Chemical Company, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and public television viewers. Major funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by the National Science Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Additional funding is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. To learn more, visit www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

Everything Bites

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:00:00 -0500

Mark Siddall, a.k.a. Dr. Leech, says that while searching for the giant Amazonian leech, bloodsucking creatures were the least of his problems. Produced by David Levin. Interview conducted by Peter Tyson. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Major funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by Pfizer, the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and public television viewers. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0229297. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more fun science stories, visit our Web site at http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

Engineering Fiction

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:00:00 -0500

Engineer Karl Iagnemma of MIT talks to NOVA scienceNOW's Susan Lewis about his dual life as a roboticist and award-winning fiction author. Produced by Susan K. Lewis. Audio editing by David Levin. Interview conducted by Susan Lewis. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Major funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by Pfizer, the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and public television viewers. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0229297. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more fun science stories, visit our Web site at http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

Wired for Weight

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:00:00 -0500

In this podcast, NOVA scienceNOW correspondent David Duncan talks to Dr. Jeffrey Friedman of Rockefeller University about the connection between genetics and obesity. Audio editing by David Levin. Produced by Dean Irwin. Interview conducted by David Duncan. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Major funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by Pfizer, the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and public television viewers. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0229297. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more fun science stories, visit our Web site at http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

Mother of All Extinctions

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:00:00 -0500

NOVA scienceNOW producer Joe McMaster asks our series host, Neil deGrasse Tyson, why everyone should know about the Permian extinction. Produced by Susan K. Lewis. Audio editing by David Levin. Interview conducted by Joe McMaster. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Major funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by Pfizer, the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and public television viewers. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0229297. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more fun science stories, visit our Web site at http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

Extinction Happens

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:00:00 -0500

NOVA scienceNOW producer Julia Cort talks to MIT geologist Sam Bowring about a mass extinction at the end of the Permian period and discusses whether it could happen again. Audio editing by David Levin. Produced by Susan K. Lewis. Interview with Sam Bowring conducted by Julia Cort. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Major funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by Pfizer, the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and public television viewers. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0229297. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more fun science stories, visit our Web site at http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

Longevity Gene

Fri, 8 Aug 2008 17:00:00 -0500

NOVA scienceNOW producer Chad Cohen describes a new study that may link longevity to a gene controlling a certain type of cholesterol. Produced by Chad Cohen and Lexi Krock. Audio editing by David Levin. Interviews conducted by Chad Cohen. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Major funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by Pfizer, the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and public television viewers. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0229297. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more fun science stories, visit our Web site at http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

Bacteria Unite!

Fri, 8 Aug 2008 17:00:00 -0500

Bonnie Bassler of Princeton University explains how bacteria can "talk" with one another, and even join together in coordinated efforts. Scientists are beginning to see these microscopic creatures-once thought completely asocial-in a whole new way. Podcast produced by Susan K. Lewis and edited by David Levin. Interview by Carla Denley. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Major funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by Pfizer, the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and public television viewers. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0229297. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more fun science stories, visit our Web site at http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

Cosmic Perspective: Happy Birthday, NASA

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:00:00 -0500

NOVA scienceNOW host and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson offers a birthday greeting to America's space agency. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Major funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by Pfizer, the National Science Foundation, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Additional funding is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0229297. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more fun science stories, visit our Web site at pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

Cosmic Perspective: Intelligent Life?

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:00:00 -0500

NOVA scienceNOW host and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson gives his "Cosmic Perspective" on what an alien civilization picking up radio signals from Earth might think. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Major funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by Pfizer, the National Science Foundation, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Additional funding is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0229297. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more fun science stories, visit our Web site at http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

Eavesdropping on ET

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:00:00 -0500

Seth Shostak, senior astronomer for SETI, explains the organization's search for other intelligent life in the universe. Podcast produced by David Levin. Interview by Andrea Kissack. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by Pfizer, the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and public television viewers. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0407101. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. You can visit us online at http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

Leeches!

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:00:00 -0500

Mark Siddall, a leech expert at the American Museum of Natural History, wants to change how you think about nature's most notorious blood-suckers. Podcast produced by David Levin. Original interview by Julia Cort. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by Pfizer, the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and public television viewers. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0407101. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more fun science stories, visit http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

Bridge Doctors

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:00:00 -0500

Structural engineer Michael Todd describes the state of bridge monitoring around the world. Interview by Rima Chaddha. Edited by David Levin. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Major funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by the National Science Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Additional funding is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0229297. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more fun science stories, visit our Web site at http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

Cosmic Perspective: Telescopes in Space

Tue, 8 Jul 2008 11:00:00 -0500

NOVA scienceNOW host Neil deGrasse Tyson gives his "Cosmic Perspective" on telescopes in space. Podcast produced by David Levin. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Major funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by Pfizer, the National Science Foundation, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Additional funding is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0229297. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more fun science stories, visit our Web site at http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

Doctor Q.

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 09:00:00 -0500

Dr. Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa is a neurosurgeon and cancer researcher at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD. In this podcast, hear the remarkable story of his career, which began as a migrant farm worker in southern California. Podcast produced by David Levin. Interview by Robe Imbriano. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Major funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by Pfizer, the National Science Foundation, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Additional funding is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0229297. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more fun science stories, visit our Web site at http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

To Test or Not to Test?

Tue, 1 Jul 2008 16:00:00 -0500

Dr. Arthur Caplan, director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania, discusses the ethical issues raised by commercial genetic testing. Podcast produced by David Levin. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Major funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by the Pfizer, the National Science Foundation, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Additional funding is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0229297. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more fun science stories, visit our Web site at http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

Rock Star Geneticist

Tue, 1 Jul 2008 16:00:00 -0500

Geneticist Pardis Sabeti does it all -- she finished a PhD while working her way through Harvard Medical School, wrote a computer algorithm that is now widely used for studying evolution, and even finds time to make music with her band, Thousand Days. Podcast produced by David Levin. Original interview by Robe Imbriano. Music by Thousand Days. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Major funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by the National Science Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Additional funding is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0229297. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more fun science stories, visit our Web site at http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

Finding a Fake Van Gogh

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:00:00 -0500

NOVA scienceNOW's Dean Irwin discusses what he learned about this new computer technology while producing his story on digital art authentication. Podcast produced by David Levin. Music by Jeff Allen. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Major funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by the National Science Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Additional funding is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0229297. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more fun science stories, visit our Web site at http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

Catching Forged Photos

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:00:00 -0500

In this podcast, Dartmouth College computer scientist Hany Farid discusses his work on mathematical and computational methods for spotting digital forgeries. Podcast produced by David Levin. Interview by Rima Chaddha. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Major funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by the National Science Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Additional funding is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0229297. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more fun science stories, visit our Web site at http://pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

Finding Lost Memories

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:00:00 -0500

In this podcast, hear from MIT's Eric Lander and Li-Huei Tsai about new experiments that are exploring whether "lost" memories can be regained. Podcast produced by David Levin. Interview by Betsey Arledge and Peter Standring. Music by www.animalhospital.com. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Major funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by the National Science Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Additional funding is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0229297. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more fun science stories, visit our Web site at http://pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

Cosmic Perspective: Dark Matter and Dark Energy

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:00:00 -0500

NOVA scienceNOW host Neil deGrasse Tyson gives his "Cosmic Perspective" on dark matter and dark energy. Podcast produced by David Levin. Music by www.animalhospitalmusic.com. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Major funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by the National Science Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Additional funding is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0229297. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more fun science stories, visit our Web site at http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

Hands on Hubble

Tue, 3 Jun 2008 09:00:00 -0500

John Grunsfeld, an astronomer and astronaut, says that fixing the Hubble Space Telescope will be a delicate operation. In this podcast, he explains how astronauts will have to literally let their fingers do the walking when working on satellite -- and why the gloves of their space suits will play a major role in the mission's success. Podcast produced by David Levin. Interview by Rush DeNooyer. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Major funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by the National Science Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Additional funding is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0229297. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more fun science stories, visit our Web site at http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

Cosmic Perspective: Bad News and Uncertainty

Fri, 16 May 2008 14:00:00 -0500

NOVA scienceNOW host Neil deGrasse Tyson gives his "Cosmic Perspective" on bad news and uncertainty in science. Podcast produced by David Levin. Music by www.animalhospital.com. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Major funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by the National Science Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Additional funding is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0229297. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more fun science stories, visit our Web site at http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

A Cosmic Enigma

Fri, 9 May 2008 15:00:00 -0500

Dark matter is a cosmic enigma. We can't see it or touch it -- so what is it? We asked MIT physicist Max Tegmark about the nature of this strange substance and why it remains so mysterious. Produced by David Levin. Interview by Julia Cort. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Major funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by the National Science Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Additional funding is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0229297. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more fun science stories, visit our Web site at http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

Asking Big Questions

Fri, 2 May 2008 15:00:00 -0500

Dr. Judah Folkman, a pioneer in the field of cancer research, passed away in January 2008. In this podcast, he describes how a high school chemistry teacher inspired him to think big, and make unlikely connections. Podcast produced by David Levin. Music by The New You. Judah Folkman audio courtesy Oberlin College. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Major funding for NOVA scienceNOW is provided by the National Science Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Additional funding is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0229297. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more fun science stories, visit our Web site at http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow

Global Meltdown

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:00:00 -0500

Glaciologist Lonnie Thompson of Ohio State University discusses why we should worry about glaciers that are melting worldwide. Podcast produced by David Levin. Music by Michael Potvin. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Funding for NOVA is provided by David H. Koch, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and public television viewers. For more scientist profiles, visit our Web site at http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow