Podcasts

Vol 52: Human tissues as tools
When is a product of your body not your own? Can a patent be applied to a living thing? Sociologist Hannah Landecker, from the Center for Biology and Genetics at University of California, Los Angeles, talks about the social and historical study of life sciences and technology, nutritional epigenetics, and the controversy and rise of living tools for research and medicine.
(Length–33:10, Transcript coming soon)
Podcast > iTunes
MP3 download > 52(15.6 MB)

Vol 51: Culture and human evolution
Unlike most animals, humans are obligate cultural organisms. How did a psychology develop that allows humans to be heirs to accumulated knowledge? How did this capacity to develop ethics, rules, language, tools and histories transform human evolution? Listen in as anthropologist Robert Boyd talks about culture, the spread of innovation and how cultural environments, not just genetics, can shape human evolution.
(Length–31:17, Transcript coming soon)
Podcast > iTunes
MP3 download > 51(37.18 MB)

Vol 50: Novel weapons and invasive domination
What is the difference between invasive, introduced, native and exotic plants? Human activity and values can change landscapes, but University of Montana ecologist Ray Callaway explains how invasive plants’ biochemical arsenal can also give them competitive advantage. Come hear about his “novel weapons theory” and all things roots and shoots.
(Length–25:39, Transcript coming soon)
Podcast > iTunes
MP3 download > 50(12.1 MB)

Vol 49: Gene flow and GM crops
Why are genetically modified (GM) crops so controversial and what are their environmental risks? Professor Allison Snow from Ohio State University will talk about some of the controversies around genetic engineering and how her work in gene flow may inform the development and regulation of transgenics.
(Length–17:39, Transcript coming soon)
Podcast > iTunes
MP3 download > 49(8.3 MB)

Vol 48: Restoration Ecology: Streams and bays
The Chesapeake Bay is home to blue crab, shellfish and fisherman, but will that continue long into the future? Margaret Palmer, laboratory director of the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, explains the challenges to and the importance of streams and wetlands, and restoration ecology’s practical, sustainable approach to preserve the health of bays.
(Length–31:17, Transcript coming soon)
Podcast > iTunes
MP3 download > 48(17.4 MB)

Vol 47: Real or fake? The science behind art
We’ve all picked up something beautiful and old at a flea market or estate sale and wondered aloud who made it and when...and whether we had a find or been fleeced. What happens when a serious collector, university or a museum has questions about an object? They might contact investigator Mark Rasmussen. Mark heads Rare Collections, a business that takes scientific discovery deep into art’s ceramics, wood, stone, patenation and paint to distinguish the authentic from the fake.
(Length–31:17, Transcript coming soon)
Podcast > iTunes
MP3 download > 47(12.8 MB)

Vol 46: Arizona Jaguars
Not just pumas, but jaguars roam the borderlands of the Southwest. Join Emil McCain, resident biologist with the Borderlands Jaguar Detection Project, to find out about these elusive big cats and the challenges ahead to ensure their survival and conservation.
(Length–31:17, Transcript coming soon)
Podcast > iTunes
MP3 download > 46(14.0 MB)

Vol 45: Biomimicry: Nature as design
“What would Nature do?” is the catchphrase of Janine Benyus, the author of “Biomimicry: Innovation inspired by Nature” and founder of the non-profit Biomimicry Institute and for-profit Biomimicry Guild. Janine’s group brings designers, architects and engineers together with biologists, transforming innovation and promoting sustainable approaches that embrace Nature’s 3.8 billion years of evolutionary design. Come join in the conversation with Janine from her home in Montana.
(Length–31:17, Transcript coming soon)
Podcast > iTunes
MP3 download > 45(11.1 MB)

Vol 44: The greenhouse equation: soils, trees and cities - Guest: Diane Pataki and Nancy Grimm
There is growing understanding about the impact of fossil fuel use on the gaseous mix of our atmosphere, but what role would you expect soil to play, in any? Professor Diane Pataki, from UC Irvine, and ASU urban ecologist Nancy Grimm talk about how what looks like just dirt can effect change in our air. Sit in during the discussion of the surprising roles that soils, trees, cities and carbon offsets can play in the question of atmospheres.
(Length–31:26, Transcript coming soon)
Podcast > iTunes
MP3 download > 44(11.9 MB)

Vol 43: Bioeconomics: tradeoffs, nature and society - Guest: Eli Fenichel
People care about their wilderness and wild spaces to the tune of $122 billion dollars a year, just shy of the entire GDP for Israel or Venezuela. The field of bioeconomics works to balance the needs of wildlife with society, considering how to deliver ecoservices with an eye on sustainability, conservation and management. Assistant professor Eli Fenichel talks about the complexities inherent in this art that juggles concerns about emergent disease, invasive species, with fisheries and recreation, and preservation of wildlife and wild spaces for future generations.
(Length–25:48, Transcript coming soon)
Podcast > iTunes
MP3 download > 43(14.4 MB)

Vol 42: Evolution and emergent disease - Guest: Ananias Escalante
Malaria kills a child somewhere around the world every 30 seconds and is responsible for 350-500 million clinical cases and one million deaths each year. Today’s guest, associate professor Ananias Escalante studies the host-shift and ecology and evolution of emerging diseases, most particularly the malarial parasite, Plasmodium. Come join us while we talk about the challenges that malaria presents to public health agencies, and how this disease organisms’ genomes and their evolution could potentially hold a key to their treatment.
(Length–33:49, Transcript coming soon)
Podcast > iTunes
MP3 download > 42(15.9 MB)

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