Groks Science Radio Show and Podcast

Does marijuana affect the brain? What is the scientific evidence? On this episode, Dr. Anne Speckhard discussed marijuana use and the brain.

Innovations in modern society have created several benefits to human health, but they may have also created changes to human development. On this episode, Dr. Martin Blaser discussed changes to the human microbiome.

Dr. Stephen Palumbi talks about his book, The Extreme Life of the Sea, on the fastest, oldest, and smallest creatures that live in the coldest, hottest, and deepest parts of the ocean.

The barriers to inventing and tinkering keep falling as computers become more powerful and 3D printing becomes ubiquitous. On this episode, Tracy McSheery discusses the opportunities for entrepreneurship.

We constantly making inferences about the thoughts and beliefs of others but how often do we get it right? On this episode, Dr. Nicholas Epley, professor at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business discusses Mindwise.

Computer business systems have been designed to streamline and increase productivity in various organizations. But, have these systems been implemented appropriately? On this episode, Simon Head discussed why smarter machines are making dumber humans.

The ocean is changing rapidly. Sophie McCoy explains her research on how these changes are affecting the marine ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest.

Most people would agree that a biological understanding of mental illness is an important effort. On this episode, Dr. Richard Davidson discussed positive states of mind.

Why do lab supplies cost so much? Is there a way to make science more efficient? On this episode, Tom Ruginis discussed improving the happiness of scientists and the quality of their research.

Thomas Edison is widely regarded as one of the greatest inventors. His influences on industry and technology remain with us today. On this episode, Leonard DeGraaf discussed the life and works of Thomas Edison.

What can our closest living relatives, great apes like the chimpanzee and bonobo, teach us about ourselves? On this episode, Dale Peterson joins us to discuss these fascinating, yet sadly endangered, animals.

Trillions of subatomic particles called neutrinos are zipping through our bodies every second of every day. On this episode, Dr. Ray Jayawardhana discussed the hunt for neutrinos.

Dr. Brad Gemmell gives us a glimpse into the secret predatory lives of seahorses, and describes how we are getting ideas from the anatomy of the jellyfish for designing vehicles for water and air travel.

How do the species of the world wind up in their geographical locations? On this episode, Prof. Alan De Queiroz discusses ocean crossings and speciation.

What is the nature of reality? And, how can math provide the answers? On this program, Prof. Max Tegmark discussed the ultimate nature of reality.

The wide array of eye designs in the animal kingdom reflects the critical role that sight plays in the well-being of an animal. On this episode, Dr. Ivan Schwab tells us the story of eye evolution.

Sir Ernest Shackleton and his journey to Antartica is best known for the heroic and epic tale of survival that ensued following the initial disasters that were encountered. On this program, Tim Jarvis discussed recreating this epic voyage of survival.

What is the BRAIN initiative? On this episode, neuroscientist Partha Mitra, offers background and insight.

Are current trends in food production and consumption sustainable? On this episode, Junko Habu discusses findings from the Jomon civilization and its implications for global climate change.

Humans seem very distinct from other animals, but what is it about the human mind that truly defines as uniquely human? On this episode, Prof. Thomas Suddendorf discussed the gap between humans and other animals.

Dr. Dwayne Godwin contributes regularly to Scientific American in the form of neuroscience comics. On this episode, he discusses his creative process and goals for the series.

The population of the world continues to grow, but can the earth sustain it? On this program, Alan Weisman discussed sustainable population growth.

Evolution has created a wide range of bird species, many of which have not been characterized. On this episode, Ben Winger discusses his research on how new species of birds evolve and his work in the Peruvian cloud forests

The range of mental conditions is part of daily life, but at what point do downturns become pathological? On this program, Dr. Steven Walker discussed weighing therapy and pharmaceutical treatments for mental conditions.

We have learned a great deal about the surface of Mars, the moons of Saturn, and the origins of our universe. On this episode, Chris Impey discussed unmanned space exploration of distant worlds.

Climate change often seems massive, yet remote. However, the impacts are being felt around the globe. On this program, Elizabeth Gaylynn Baker discussed the impact of climate change.

The subject of mathematics often seems dry and removed from reality. On this episode, Prof. Edward Frenkel discussed the hidden reality of math and the Langlands program.

Brain plasticity happens not only early in life but also in adulthood, as well as in response to traumatic brain injury. On this episode, Dr. Michael Merzenich discussed the biology of brain plasticity.

What happens when old friends meet again? Wildness ensues. On this episode, our man on the street Vikram Kulkarni, joins us to talk about the science of Oakland.

Anxiety disorders are a part of life for people around the world, but there has been a revolution in our understanding of these disorders. Dr. Mazen Kheirbek discusses anxiety disorders, adult neurogenesis, and the hippocampus.

Human behavior is often viewed as being eminently rational. However, modern psychology has shown that behavior is often guided more by evolutionary constraints. On this program, Prof. Douglas T. Kenrick discussed the evolutionary basis of human thinking.

As the internet expands, the barriers to spreading scientific knowledge falls. Yet, there is never enough science education. On this program, James Dunbar talks about the Universe Verse

Several car companies promising to release nearly self driving cars in the next decade. On this episode, Dr. Steve Underwood discusses self driving cars.

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has been lauded as the solution to the peak oil problem, and will provide hundreds of years of cheap energy. But, the reality is very different. On this program, Richard Heinberg discussed the false promises of franking.

You might think that sharks are the strangest animals in the ocean. In fact, they have so many peculiarities that they seem almost alien! On this episode, biologists Carrie Albertin and Judit Pungor discussed these bizarre and wonderful animals.

The Standard Model aims to explain phenomena of the very small and the very large. Yet, not quite everything in the universe can be explained by it. On this program, Thomas Buckholtz discussed complementary mathematics to bridge gaps in the Standard Model.

Most scientific articles are not published in open access journals. On this program, Dr. Patrick Brown and Dr. Michael Eisen discussed the state of the publishing system, the shift towards open access, and the story of PLoS.

Although critical thinking is essential for effective communication and problem solving, the techniques for critical thinking are often not employed effectively. On this program, Dr. Linda Elder discussed how to think critically.

Sudden wealth can be a blessing and a curse, especially if the wealth is mismanaged. On this episode, Mr. Irvin Schorsch discussed dealing with sudden wealth syndrome.

Fossil Lake is a fascinating place in terms of the insight it gives us into communities of long extinct animals. On this episode, Dr. Lance Grande discussed his new book, The Lost World of Fossil Lake.

Exposure to radiation gave us Spiderman and the Incredible Hulk but what really happens when people are exposed to it? On this program, Dr. Charles Limoli discusses radiation and brain cells.

Less than a half a million African elephants live in the wild and more than 25,000 of those are poached every year. On this episode, Dr. Kevin Uno discussed carbon, ecology, elephants, and conservation

Although sex is an integral part of human existence, there is still that most of us are in the dark about. On this program, Dr. Robert Martin discussed the evolution of sexual behaviors in humans.

Oysters face an ocean of difficulty but offer us a world of good. Dr. George Waldbusser joins us to discuss oysters and his work concerning the effects of ocean acidification on oyster development.

They surround us. They live in us. They are bacteria. Some cause diseases, others produce cheese. On this program, Jeffrey McLean discusses the genomic sequencing of bacteria.

Ken Weiss has some of the most controversial samples in all of anthropology. Dr. Weiss joined us to discuss the controversy surrounding these samples and the enormous difficulty with returning these samples to the Yanomami.

The rapid increases in the processing power of computers is heralding a brave new world where jobs will be completely automated. On this program, Kevin Drum discussed the economics of a robotic future.

The universe is a very large place and it often helps to have a guide. On this episode, Megan Watzke discussed a guide to the cosmos.

The dinosaurs of our childhood have changed so much over the years. On this episode, science writer Brian Switek discussed his new book, My Beloved Brontosaurus.

The natural disasters that small islands face are regarded as the canary in a coal mine on the issue of global climate change. On this program, John Hay discussed the importance small island countries.