Museum of Science, Boston | Podcasts

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Podcasts

Through weekly interviews with guest researchers and our own knowledgeable staff, the Museum's podcasts offer an in-depth look at the latest in science and technology.

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Studying the Sun and Spooky Spiders (Podcast): Solar physicist Dr. Gemma Attrill talks about the new mission to study the atmosphere of the sun. Also, Halloween time brings us some spooky information on a new giant spider species. (details).

Helpful Bee Stings | Prehistoric Primates (Podcast): Although bee stings can be painful and possibly harmful, discover how the toxin may also be able to help kill cancer cells. Then, find out if ancient primates Ida and Afradapis are our cousins or our ancestors. (details).

The Ocean and Ice Sheets | Flu Information (Podcast): Hear how guest researcher Dr. Fiamma Straneo studies the interaction between the ocean and Greenland's glaciers. Also, get the latest information about swine flu, seasonal flu, and vaccinations. (details).

Water on the Moon? Oranges in Tires? (Podcast): Hear Boston University graduate student Tony Case talk about his part in the latest missions to the moon. Also, find out how orange oil can be used to make tires. (details).

Archaeology Without Digging (Podcast): Geophysicist Dr. Meg Watters from Time Team America teaches us how to see beneath the soil without actually digging. (details).

Measures of Melting | Green Batteries (Podcast): The ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica are constantly changing. In the first part of this podcast, find out how this happens and how scientists are measuring these changes. Then, learn about a type of algae that could significantly improve our current battery technology. (details).

Space, The Final Frontier: Lunar Water and Black Holes (Podcast): On October 9, the LCROSS satellite will crash into the Moon in the search for lunar water. Our guest Andrew Chaikin gives a guided tour of the Moon. Also, astrophysicist Dan Evans talks about a galaxy-destroying black hole. (details).

Blight and Blindness (Podcast): Tomato plants are dying all over New England. Find out why in this week's segment. Also, learn how gene therapy can be used to cure color blindness. (details).

The Appendix and The Adhesive (Podcast): The appendix is an organ that has been around for millions of years - it has a function in other animals, but is it useful in humans? Find out more in this segment. Also, learn about a medical adhesive that mimics the natural glue produced by sandcastle worms. (details).

Stem Cell Targeting | Genetics of Sleep (Podcast): Discover how scientists can use nanomagnets to direct stem cells to injured locations in the body. Then learn how genetics can play a role in how we sleep. (details).

The Secret Life of Robotic Bees (Podcast): Spying, exploring, pollinating. These are just some of the many uses for robotic bees. Hear how a wide range of scientists and engineers at Harvard University are designing a mechanical form of this social insect. (details).

The Benefits of Blueberries and the Bitterness of Broccoli (Podcast): Blueberries are a well-known healthy food, but blueberry leaves may now play a beneficial role in treating Hepatitis C. DNA sequencing of the Neanderthal genome suggests that our extinct cousins would have been able to taste the bitterness of broccoli in a way similar to humans. (details).

Jellyfish Mix the Ocean | Monkeys Can Eat Less and Live Longer (Podcast): What do jellyfish have to do with climate change? Can primates (like monkeys and humans) live longer if they eat less? Learn the answers to these questions and more in this week's segment. (details).

Skate Like a Snake | Cancer Vaccines (Podcast): Discover how scientists have been studying snake motion. Also, learn how testes proteins could provide an effective means of treating breast cancers. (details).

Science of Sharing (Podcast): Learn about a research study conducted in the Museum of Science's Living Laboratory, by Harvard graduate students Peter Blake and David Rand, that teases out at what age children are willing to share. (details).

Fighting Cancer with Salmonella | Tracking Wastewater with Sweeteners (Podcast): Find out how Salmonella cells may be able to fight cancer in a unique two wave attack. Also, learn how artificial sweeteners can be used to track the migration of wastewater after release into the environment. (details).

Total Eclipse of the Sun (Podcast): On July 22, 2009 there will be a six minute interval where the moon will completely block out the Sun, creating a total solar eclipse. Scientists are flocking to the Eastern Hemisphere to study the Sun's corona during this impressive event. (details).

Regenerating Salamander Limbs | Genetics of Schizophrenia (Podcast): Discover how scientists are using fluorescent salamanders to determine the mechanism of limb regeneration. Also, hear about massive new studies into the genetics of schizophrenia. (details).

Wild Cancers and Robotic Ferrets (Podcast): This week we will learn how wild animals can develop cancer and what that means for conservation efforts. Then we will find out about a technology that could one day "ferret out" the contents of large shipping containers. (details).

Water on the Moon? Dental Plasma? (Podcast): Learn how the recent unmanned mission to the moon will prepare us for humans' return to the lunar surface. Also, find out how plasma, the fourth state of matter, may be used to kill bacteria in a root canal. (details).

5D DVD | 17 Genes of TB (Podcast): Discover how you may one day be able to store all of your movies and all of your books (and all of the library's books) together on one disk. Also, learn what researchers have found out about how tuberculosis attacks our body. (details).

Two Different Jungles: Ugandan and Epidermal (Podcast): This week will be exploring two different types of jungles. Hear Dr. Jeremy DeSilva describe how studying chimpanzees in a Ugandan jungle can tell us more about locomotion in human ancestors. Also, learn about our own epidermal jungle, including all the bacteria that live on our skin. (details).

Little Green Monkeys and Little Green Men (Podcast): Sorry, but there is no science fiction in this week's episode, just real science. We will learn how and why scientists are making green, glowing marmosets. Also, we will find out if liquid water exists on Mars and what that means for the possibility of life on our planetary neighbor. (details).

Primates and Plastics (Podcast): In this segment, find out what scientists have learned from the oldest complete primate fossil ever unearthed. Then hear how yet another type of plastic is raising questions about adverse human health effects. (details).

Monitoring HIV and Regenerating Nerves (Podcast): Learn how a local Massachusetts company is helping treat HIV by devising a new piece of monitoring equipment. Also, hear how scientists can actually help nerve cells regenerate. (details).

Forces That Change Us: Aging and Bacteria (Podcast): This week we will hear from two guest researchers from our Forces That Change Us series. Dr. Heidi Tissenbaum will describe her research into aging. Dr. David Schauer will discuss why the bacterium Helicobacter Pylori can cause peptic ulcers and gastric cancer, but not always! (details).

Small Molecule Microarrays | Hippos and Hobbits (Podcast): Hear Dr. Angela Koehler from the Broad Institute describe her work with small molecule microarrays. Then find out about new research indicating why Homo floresiensis is called the human hobbit. (details).

Green Pharmacy | Flying Animals (Podcast): What is Green Pharmacy and how can we implement it? Do a moth, a bat, and a bird all fly the same way? Learn the answers to these questions and more in this week's podcast. (details).

Spring Is In The Air | DNA Alphabet (Podcast): Learn about current floral research at Walden Pond aided by the historical naturalist Henry David Thoreau. Also, hear about two more letters added to the four letter DNA alphabet. (details).

Clearing Corneas | Fixing the Ozone Layer (Podcast): Learn how scientists can use human stem cells to clear damaged corneas in mice. Also, find out if the ozone layer has improved since CFCs were banned over 20 years ago. (details).

Robot Scientist | Nano Muscles (Podcast): In this week's segment we will learn about experiments that are being performed by a robot scientist. We will also find out about new and improved artificial muscles. (details).

Life From Meteorites? | Bacteria That Love Metal (Podcast): Find out how meteorites may have helped life develop on Earth. Also, learn how bacteria may one day reduce our nuclear waste. (details).

Satellites and Space Debris | Infection-Induced Anemia (Podcast): Dr. David Wright from the Union of Concerned Scientists talks about space debris and its repercussions. We will also learn how and why infections can cause anemia. (details).

The Very Small and the Very Old (Podcast): The small world of nanotechnology is making a big splash this summer with water repellent swimsuits. Also, our human ancestor Peking Man finds out he is much older than we thought. (details).

Technology Old and New: Silk Production and Paper Diagnostics (Podcast): Hear how China may not have held the ancient patent on silk production technology. Also, discover future ways that paper technology can help diagnose patients, even outside of medical facilities. (details).

Why Go Gray? | Not So Rose Wine (Podcast): Hear about new research detailing how hair cells turn gray. Then find out why red wine is not always beneficial to your health. (details).

Talking About Taste (Podcast): In this week's episode, Dr. Dennis Drayna from the National Institutes of Health describes how our five senses of taste have played a role in improving human survival and fitness. (details).

Coffee and Sunbathing? | Urine Test for Prostate Cancer (Podcast): Learn how caffeine might be useful in preventing skin cancer. Also, find out about a new urine test that might be better than a blood test in prostate cancer detection. (details).

Sunshine and MS | The Beauty and Science of Volcanic Lightning (Podcast): Find out what the relationship is between sunshine and the risk for multiple sclerosis (MS). Also, hear about a way to study and learn from the beautiful phenomenon of volcanic lightning. (details).

Water: To Drink and To Store (Podcast): This week's episode focuses on the importance of water. We will hear new research on how to filter and purify drinking water. We will also learn how phytoplankton in our oceans can remove and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. (details).

Two Sides of the Same Nanoparticle | Tasmanian Tiger Genome (Podcast): This week we will discuss potential health benefits and environmental concerns of nanoparticles. We will also find out about the implications of studying the genetics of the extinct Tasmanian Tiger. (details).

Cleaning Coal and Removing Lead (Podcast): Guest researcher Ashleigh Hildebrand talks about her work on implementing carbon capture systems at coal-fired power plants. Also, a new technique using nanoparticles may be able to remove lead from human blood. (details).

NASA Sees Cataract Proteins | The Chances of Warm Climate (Podcast): This week we will learn how NASA technology can help determine if someone will develop cataracts. Also, find out what the odds are that global warming is a phenomenon happening by chance. (details).

Exploring Mars (Podcast): Dr. Steve Squyres, principal investigator for the mission behind the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity, talks about the journey of this Mars project. This comes at the 5 year anniversary of the Mars rover mission that was only scheduled to last 90 days. (details).

Sleep, Light and Space | 2008 Science Breakthrough (Podcast): Hear Dr. Laura Barger from Harvard Medical School describe how light affects our sleep habits. Also, learn about new advances in cellular reprogramming, Science magazine's breakthrough of the year. (details).

Top 10 of 2008: Bones, Mammoths, and Mars, Oh My! (Podcast): The museum's Susan Heilman discusses her list of the top 10 science stories of 2008. See what stories were most important and interesting, including the scientific side of the election and the Olympics. (details).

New Electric Trucks in Maui (Podcast): Electric vehicles are becoming more and more prominent, however the long recharging time is often a drawback. Today we will learn how the new lithium titanate battery in the Phoenix Motorcar can be recharged in less than ten miuntes. (details).

Technology Talk: Breast Imaging (Podcast): This holiday segment features Dr. Elaine Iuanow from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center who describes different medical technologies that are currently and potentially useful for detecting breast cancers. (details).

Flying Car | CO2 In Our Oceans (Podcast): This week we will learn about how a flying car may become a reality with the Transition. Also, we will find out how CO2 is affecting not just our air but our oceans and the organisms that live in them. (details).

Treating Obesity | Importance of Molybdenum (Podcast): Our guest Dr. Sasha Stiles from the Tufts Obesity Clinic discusses the background of and some treatments for obesity. Also, we will hear about the role that molybdenum plays in nitrogen fixation, and the effect it can have on climate change. (details).

Brains, Birth, and Bipedalism (Podcast): Guest Dr. Jeremy DeSilva from Worcester State College talks about an exciting new fossil discovery. A female Homo erectus pelvis found in Ethiopia answers questions about the biology of birth in our ancestors 1.2 million years ago. (details).

Shaping Our Heart | Future of Speakers (Podcast): Guest Dr. Aaron Baggish from Massachusetts General Hospital will tell us how exercise can help reshape our body's most important muscle . . . our heart. We will also learn about new nanotechnology that may be used to create new (and better) audio speakers. (details).

Potential for Pencils and Electric Eels (Podcast): This week we will discover a new way to peel the layers away from a pencil on the nanoscale and then use the remaining graphene sheets for many varied applications. We will also learn how an electric eel generates electricity and about some interesting applications for that knowledge. (details).

Journey Towards the Center of the Earth | Breathing in Boston (Podcast): Extreme life has been found all over the planet, but researchers have recently discovered a very unique form of extreme life deep inside the earth. Also, guest researcher Dr. Doug Brugge talks about his studies of asthma in various Boston populations. (details).

An Atomic Pen | The Color Purple (Podcast): This week we will learn how to write letters on the atomic scale. We will also find out how to make a purple tomato and what benefits that has for us. (details).

Two Ways to Study Disease: GFP and Epigenetics (Podcast): Today we will hear about two different ways to study disease. The first is using GFP, for which the discovery and use of won the 2008 Nobel Prize for Chemistry. Then we will learn about how epigenetics, the study of gene expression, is used in cancer research. (details).

Of Parasites and Paralysis (Podcast): In this segment we will hear about newly sequenced malarial parasite genomes and find out how controlling even one cell can provide motion to once-paralyzed muscles. (details).

Elevator to Space | Photographing Lightning (Podcast): This week we will be looking to the sky. First, we will hear about new efforts to build a space elevator. Then we will learn about how existing high-speed photography helps us discover new information about lightning. (details).

Diabetes and Gut Bacteria | Red Fish, Blue Fish (Podcast): Today we will hear about the newly discovered relationship between our intestinal bacteria and type I diabetes. We will also learn about the way fish are evolving in Lake Victoria. (details).

Inventing the Movies (Podcast): Movies are not just an art form but a platform for scientific invention and innovation. Journalist Scott Kirsner discusses the history of movies and the scientific advances that have made them what they are today. (details).

Using Geology and Archaeology Together (Podcast): Geologist Dr. Allen Gontz talks about how he uses geology together with archaeology to uncover parts of Boston's history. He describes two of his projects: one on Rainsford Island in Boston Harbor, and the other at the Blake House in Dorchester. (details).

Who Dunnit? (Podcast): Fingerprints are an important part of solving crimes and catching criminals. Today we will learn about two new techniques that will help to detect some difficult to see fingerprints. (details).

Model Organisms: Fire Ants and Baker's Yeast (Podcast): This segment will focus on model organisms in biology. We will learn how genetics can influence colonies of fire ants and hear how baker's yeast may one day be a source of pharmaceuticals. (details).

Part of the Group (Podcast): Researcher Andrew Baron describes a study that focuses on children's perceptions of their "own" group. Hear what influences their preferences and how young they can occur. (details).

The MBTA Hack | It's Alive!? (Podcast): On this episode we will learn about some of the technology behind the MBTA Charlie Card hack. Also, new evidence once again questions whether or not viruses may actually be alive. (details).

China's Smog Experiment | Bending Light . . . Backwards (Podcast): This week we will learn more about two popular news stories. First, China's emission reductions during the Olympic Games has afforded the perfect opportunity to study atmospheric smog. Also, new materials to bend visible light backwards could lead to some interesting new inventions. (details).

I'm Sorry | Storing Solar Energy (Podcast): Guest researcher Craig Smith talks about his project studying apology, and the accompanying emotions, in children. Also, we will hear about a new way of storing solar energy- by using a more efficient method to split water into oxygen and hydrogen. (details).

Recognizing Faces | New Step To HIV Vaccine (Podcast): Dr. Meg Moulson describes her experiment studying how children are able to recognize faces. Also, we will hear about the latest research on the HIV envelope protein, which could lead to a vaccine. (details).

Infant Facial Recognition | Fish Communication (Podcast): In this week's episode we will learn about two very different studies concerning the brain. First we will hear about a study of facial recognition in babies. Then we will discuss the evolutionary significance of fish vocalization. (details).

Stopping Cancer with Nanoparticles | Antibacterial Honey (Podcast): This week we will hear about two potential new ways to fight disease. First, nanoparticles may be used with traditional chemotherapeutics to selectively target and kill cancer cells. Also, honey is not just for eating but may be used to kill many types of bacteria. (details).

Live from Greenland! (Podcast): Live via satellite phone from the Greenland ice sheet, we will hear from glaciologist Sarah Das of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. She will talk about life on the ice and her current research involving melt water lakes and their impact on the ice sheet. (details).

Mercury Cleanup | Poisonous Bismuth (Podcast): This week's episode is very elemental. We will hear about a new way to clean up mercury. We will also learn about how our own bodies may be making poisonous bismuth compounds. (details).

Green Communities Act | Better Cassava (Podcast): Hear details about the landmark piece of "green" legislation recently signed by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. Also, learn what scientists have done to make the cassava root into a better meal. (details).

Fighting the MRSA Superbug | New Mosquito Repellents (Podcast): Hear how scientists are treating the MRSA superbug with bacteriophage, a naturally occurring virus that has evolved to specifically kill bacteria. Researchers have also found several chemicals with potential for use as mosquito repellents. (details).

Human-Robot Interaction | The Unique Platypus (Podcast): Guest researcher Mikey Siegel describes personal robots and tells us about his interest in the human-robot interaction. We'll also hear about the uniqueness of the platypus- part mammal, part bird, part reptile. (details).

From Astronaut to Artist (Podcast): Captain Alan Bean was the lunar module pilot for Apollo 12 and the fourth man to walk on the moon. He describes how his experiences as an astronaut inspire him as an artist. (details).

Human Monkeypox | Extreme Skydiving (Podcast): This week, infectious disease expert, Dr. Kate Rubins, discusses her work on human monkeypox. Also, learn about an astounding skydiving attempt by Frenchman Michel Fournier. (details).

The Past, Present, and Future of Nuclear Energy (Podcast): For Earth Month, we have nuclear scientist Dr. Andrew Kadak talking about one of the most widely used forms of alternative energy: nuclear power. He will discuss the benefits and risks involved and where the future of nuclear power is going. (details).

Multi-drug Resistant Fungus | Climate Change Models (Podcast): This week, we'll learn about multi-drug resistance in fungi. Also, in honor of Earth Day on April 22, we'll discuss how well computer models of climate change actually work. (details).

Gecko-Inspired Surgical Tape | Antarctic Sea Monsters (Podcast): On this episode, we'll learn about gecko-inspired surgical tape and giant antarctic sea creatures. (details).

GPS for Stem Cells | Poisonous Newts (Podcast): This week, we'll talk to a scientist who is able to "steer" stem cells to alleviate osteoporosis. We'll also hear how some snakes are able to eat very poisonous newts. (details).

World Water Week | Self-cleaning Clothing (Podcast): This week, we'll hear about World Water Week and the International Sanitation Year. We'll also hear about how nanotechnology is being used to create clothing that can clean itself. (details).

Nanotech "Future Phone" | Stem Cells Cure Diabetes in Mice (Podcast): This week, we'll talk about art as an inspiration for nanotechnology, and learn how scientists are using stem cells to cure diabetes in mice. (details).

Complex Carbon Footprints | Preservatives for Radiation Protection (Podcast): This week, we'll take a big-picture look at the concept of a carbon footprint, and we'll learn how an ingredient in potato chips could save you from an atomic bomb. (details).

The Next Mars Rover | Testing Probiotics (Podcast): On this episode, we'll take another trip to the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting to learn about the next Mars rover, and we'll learn about putting an antibiotic antidote to the test. (details).

DNA-Powered Dating Service | Implanting Artificial Eyes (Podcast): This week, we'll celebrate Valentine's Day with a look a a new dating service that matches users based on their DNA, and I'll go on location to hear about a new implantable artificial retina. (details).

Programming Robots With Blocks | The Secret Behind Blue Eyes (Podcast): This week we'll talk to a scientist who programs robots using wooden blocks and learn about the complex genetics behind blue eyes. (details).

Storing Hydrogen in Nanotubes | Talking to a Computer for Better Health (Podcast): Today we'll learn about using carbon nanotubes to store hydrogen in a car's gas tank, and hear from a scientist who is designing computer helpers you can talk to. (details).

Carbon Dioxide Could Be Deadly | Seeking Synthetic Spider Silk (Podcast): Today we'll hear about a new study that may cause a re-think at the Environmental Protection Agency. We'll also talk about the path to a pair of spider silk socks. (details).

Improving Biodegradable Plastics | New Clues About the Cause of Autism (Podcast): On this episode, we'll learn how nanotechnologists are improving biodegradable plastics. We'll also hear about new research into the link between autism and a chemical called thimerosal. (details).

Electricity and Hydrogen from Bacteria (Podcast): We'll kick off 2008 by talking to a researcher who hopes to one day produce hydrogen and electricity from wastewater. (details).

Top Ten Science Stories of 2007 (Podcast): Susan Heilman and Tim Miller, education associates at the Museum, share their personal top ten science stories of 2007. (details).

Stem Cell Therapy for Sickle-Cell Anemia | Maggot Therapy Goes Mainstream (Podcast): Today, we'll talk about using stem cells to cure sickle-cell anemia, and using maggots to clear up infection. (details).

Poking Cells to Detect Cancer (Podcast): On this episode, we'll learn about a new way to detect the spread of cancer based on the squishiness of cancer cells. (details).

Advances in Epilepsy Research (Podcast): This week, we'll talk to an epilepsy researcher about the latest advances in that disease. (details).

Silicon Chip Recovery |The Great American Smokeout (Podcast): Discover how IBM is saving valuable silicon chips that were once thrown out, saving money in the process. We'll also hear from Dr. Howard Koh, associate dean at the Harvard School of Public Health, about the Great American Smokeout held on November 15. (details).

On the Path to a Pill for Diabetes (Podcast): This week, we'll talk to a researcher who is looking at the inner workings of the cells that produce insulin in our bodies -- the same cells that cause diabetes if they aren't working properly. (details).

Stem Cells and Lung Cancer | Better Solar Panels Through the Study of Bugs (Podcast): This week we'll talk to a scientist who is examining the role of stem cells in lung cancer, and we'll hear about how researchers are taking a cue from insects to keep solar panels clean. (details).

Screening for Cancer with DNA | Nanotechnology and the Nobel Prize (Podcast): On this week's episode, we'll hear about an advance in cervical cancer screening and about how this year's Nobel Prize for physics influenced the device you're using to read this. (details).

Record-Breaking Astronaut | Treating Cancer with RADAR (Podcast): We're back after a week away with two big guests. First up is record-breaking astronaut Sunita Williams, and then MIT researcher Alan Fenn, who is using RADAR to treat breast Cancer. (details).

Local Conversations About the Environment | AltWheels Festival (Podcast): The last nine years have made the list of the 25 hottest on record, and arctic sea ice is at a record low. To address what can be done about climate change, we're taking a look at two different events that happened in the past week. (details).

Genographic Project | Velociraptor or Turkey? (Podcast): This week, we'll talk to a researcher who is taking DNA samples from over 100,000 people to answer the question, "How did we get here?" We'll also learn some surprising news about the infamous velociraptor. (details).

A New Stem-Cell Treatment for Heart Disease (Podcast): Today we'll hear about a promising treatment for heart disease using stem cells. (details).

Nano-Magnetic Sponges for Art Restoration (Podcast): On this episode, we'll hear how nano-magnetic sponges are being used to clean precious artwork. (details).

Eating With an Extra Set of Jaws | Congress Boosts Science Research (Podcast): Today we'll hear about how moray eels eat with two sets of jaws, and learn about a law that will change the face of science over the next five years. (details).

A Nano-Sized Solution for Getting Rid of Salt | Exploring an Underwater Unknown (Podcast): On this episode, we'll learn how nanoparticles could lead to inexpensive and safe fresh water supplies, and we'll hear about an expedition to an unexplored spot right here on Earth. (details).

New Anthrax Vaccine | More Primate Confusion (Podcast): This week, we'll look at what it takes to engineer a new vaccine for anthrax, and we'll hear about new confusion in the study of ancient primates. (details).

Cancer-Killing Viruses | Bones and Blood Sugar (Podcast): Today we'll talk to a researcher who is using viruses to fight cancer, and hear about a surprising role your skeleton plays in diabetes. (details).

Fossils Force Human Evolution Re-think | California Gets Tough on Carbon (Podcast): On this week's show, we'll hear about the discovery of two fossils that are causing a bit of a shakeup in human evolution circles, and we'll talk about a push for a big reduction in CO2 emissions being proposed by the state of California. (details).

Eavesdropping on Dolphins | Treating Lung Cancer With Talc (Podcast): This week, we'll talk to a scientist who swims around eavesdropping on dolphin communications, and look at a surprising idea to treat lung cancer using talcum powder. (details).

A Pill to Prevent Cholera | Studying Biodiversity (Podcast): Today we'll look at promising research into a new type of vaccine that could give us a pill to prevent cholera - and maybe a number of other diseases. We'll also look at the concept of biodiversity: how important is it to have a variety of species in an ecosystem? (details).

100th Episode: The Next Mission to Mars (Podcast): We're celebrating our 100th weekly episode this week with a special guest: a scientist in charge of a major piece of NASA's next mission to Mars. (details).

DNA-Filled JELLO as a Cancer Therapy (Podcast): This week we'll talk to a researcher who's developing a novel cancer treatment that uses DNA encased in gelatin. (details).

Silicon Slips Into Biology | Listening to Your Genes (Podcast): Today we'll talk to two scientists who are taking a bit of a different look at biology: one is using silicon to make molecules that are impossible in nature, and the other is using music to better understand DNA. (details).

Studying Chimpanzees (Podcast): This week, we're devoting the whole show to an interview with chimpanzee researcher Jerry De Silva. (details).

Using the Fight Against Spam to Digitize Books | Missing Bees Mystery (Podcast): This week, we'll hear about how one of those little annoyances of life on the Internet has been modified to digitize libraries while also fighting spam. We'll also look into the mystery of America's missing bees. (details).

Antibiotics and Asthma | Help From Our Bacterial Friends (Podcast): This episode is all about the 90% of you that isn't really you: the 100 trillion bacteria that live inside your body. (details).

A MUSE Award Retrospective (Podcast): I was away this week to accept an award for the podcast, so we're running a little retrospective of some of the cool segments we've done this year. (details).

Millions for Stem Cell Research | Your Bacteria-Fighting Skin (Podcast): This week, we'll examine a new proposal to spend $1 billion on stem cell research and other biotechnologies, and learn about a study that shows that your skin is doing a lot more for you than you thought. (details).

MIT Examines the Planet | Taking the Earth's Temperature (Podcast): Today we'll take a look at an MIT effort to examine the components of Earth from the very smallest to the very largest, and at research that used earthquakes to take the Earth's temperature. (details).

Polar Update | A Trans Fat Primer (Podcast): On this episode, we'll get a North Pole update and take a look at the science behind trans fat. (details).

Unwelcome Giants in Australia (Podcast): Today we'll meet a monstrous specimen of an invasive species in Australia. (details).

The Power of Sound | Smoking and Your Heart (Podcast): This week we'll look at a new way to generate electricity using sounds, and hear about a study that reveals some specific ways smoking is bad for your heart. (details).

Engineering Body Parts | Understanding Potato Blight (Podcast): On this episode, we'll talk to a researcher whose work on a 150-year-old potato disease is helping to keep our food safe today. We'll also speak to a scientist who designs scaffolding that's used to build body parts. (details).

Using the "E word" | Talking Gloves for the Deaf (Podcast): Today we've got a look at how use of the word "evolution" in science impacts the way the general public thinks about the concept of evolving organisms. We'll also talk to an engineer who has developed a glove that can convert sign language into speech. (details).

Faster Bacterial Detection | Viagra for Your Heart (Podcast): This week, we'll learn about using nanoparticles to speed up bacterial detection, and at a study that gave Viagra to rabbits to help treat heart attacks. (details).

Amazing "Birdbrains" | Waterbirds and Wetlands (Podcast): We'll focus on birds today with a reason why calling someone a "birdbrain" may not be such an insult, and by looking at bird population numbers and what they can tell us about the environment. (details).

Pollution-Fueled Storms | Hydrogen Fuel From the Sun (Podcast): Today we'll hear about a study showing that pollution from Asia is changing the weather as far away as Alaska, as well as a new way to make hydrogen for fuel using only water and sunlight. (details).

Going Solar at the Department of Energy | Regulating Nano in Our Backyard (Podcast): Today we'll examine a step toward solar power being taken by the US government, as well as questions of "nano" safety right in the Boston area. (details).

Deep Sea Rumblings | Understanding Migration Through Bacteria (Podcast): We've got underwater sound recordings for you this week, along with news about human migration gleaned from the study of stomach bacteria. (details).

Fighting Fever in South America | Measuring Microbial Motion (Podcast): On this episode, we'll learn about a breakthrough in the fight against hemorrhagic fevers, and talk to a scientist who studies the travels of the oceans' smallest residents. (details).

Molecular Condoms to Stop the Spread of HIV (Podcast): Today we'll hear about a new way to fight the spread of HIV and AIDS. (details).

Microwave Disinfecting | Stretchy and Strong With Help From Spiders (Podcast): On this episode, we'll learn how to clean the kitchen with help from the microwave, and about how spider-webs are teaching us to make futuristic materials. (details).

Understanding the 1918 Flu | Corn or Cardboard in Our Gas Tanks? (Podcast): Today we'll get the latest on a 90-year-old flu, and examine whether corn should be going into our gas tanks. (details).

Looking Back at 2006 (Podcast): As 2006 winds down, we thought it would be fun to look back at a few of our favorite segments from the last year, and ask you to tell us yours. (details).

Nanotech Toolkits for Cancer | Plugging in Your Car (Podcast): On this episode, we'll learn about a nano Swiss army knife of sorts for brain cancer. We will also get some good news for the future of cars that plug into the wall. (details).

Diagnosis-On-a-Chip and Flowing Water on Mars (Podcast): We've got two pretty exciting stories this week: a device the size of a stick of gum that has the potential to diagnose any infectious disease, and a phone interview with a researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab about new evidence for flowing water on Mars. (details).

Regulating "Nano" and Unlocking the Secrets of Red Wine (Podcast): Today we'll look at the first environmental regulations on consumer nanotechnology, and we'll hear about a new understanding of the benefits of dry red wines. (details).

Death by Jet Lag (Podcast): We've got a travel-related show this week, with a look at jet lag and its potentially dangerous results. (details).

Help From Chocolate Cheaters and Gas on the Moon (Podcast): Adam is back from vacation with a story of a few study participants whose weakness for chocolate gave the scientists an unexpected surprise. We'll also look at an unusual feature on the Moon that may be caused by escaping gas. (details).

Bad News for Nits and Targeted Tiny Test Tubes (Podcast): Discover how problems with lice research in Utah and problems with lice at home added up to a new way to dislodge these pests that torment over 9 million children in the United States every year. Also, hear how a group of scientists at the University of Florida is putting corks in tiny test tubes that ... (details).

Breaking the Knock Barrier with Ethanol (Podcast): One of the primary factors limiting the power output of internal combustion engines is pre-ignition. Called "knock," pre-ignition happens when the fuel and air mixture ignites before the ideal time for power output due to heat created in the course of compression. A group of scientists at the Massachusetts ... (details).

The Brain's Role in Feeling Full and Shaking Breasts to Detect Cancer (Podcast): This week, we'll look at how your brain might be having a similar reaction to food that it would have to addictive drugs, and we'll hear about how vibrations could be used to detect breast cancer. (details).

Toxic Injections to Prevent Scars and the Sound of Cancer (Podcast): We've got a biology show for you this week, with a reason why you might want to be given a deadly toxin after a car accident. We'll also hear all about why doctors may one day be listening for skin cancer as well as looking for it. (details).